During the Cold War, Latin America became a battleground for ideological struggles between the United States and the Soviet Union. The US government implemented the Monroe Doctrine to maintain its influence in the region, leading to military interventions and support for authoritarian regimes. The Cuban Revolution of 1959 marked a turning point as Fidel Castro established a communist regime, leading to the Bay of Pigs Invasion by the US in 1961. The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. In the 1970s and 1980s, US-backed dictatorships in countries like Chile, Argentina, and Brazil were responsible for widespread human rights abuses. Leftist guerrilla movements emerged in response to government repression. The end of the Cold War in the early 1990s brought about a new era of democracy in Latin America, with many countries transitioning to civilian rule. The legacy of the Cold War continues to shape politics and society in the region to this day, as governments grapple with the consequences of past interventions and conflicts.