Backyard, 1954-90

With WWII at an end, the world soon faced a new challenge widely known as the Cold War. In 24 episodes, this series chronicles this war of ideologies, from its inception in the late '40s until the dissolution of the U.S.S.R. some 40 years later. With Europe and Japan absorbed in rebuilding their cities and economies, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as the world's superpowers and standard bearers for incompatible political philosophies. Capitalism or Communism: The line was drawn in the sand. This episode looks at the trouble America faces when, to keep hegemony in its hemisphere, it winds up in the awkward position of supporting right wing military leaders in Latin America while overthrowing democratically elected ones. Chile, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala are among the places where political ideology made for some strange bedfellows during this time.