Diplomacy
Enslaved by George Washington, This Man Escaped to Freedom—and Joined the British Army
Harry Washington fought for his enslaver's enemy during the American Revolution. Later, he migrated to Nova Scotia and Sierra Leone
The Shipwrecked Teenager Who Helped End Japan's Isolationist Era
Rescued by an American sea captain, Manjiro spent time abroad before returning home, where he was valued for his expertise but never fully trusted
The African Diplomats Who Protested Segregation in the U.S.
Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy publicly apologized after restaurants refused to serve Black representatives of newly independent nations
The American Ambassador Who Tried to Prevent Pearl Harbor
A new book explores the diplomatic efforts of Joseph C. Grew, who was assigned to Tokyo between 1932 and 1942
Elizabeth II Was an Enduring Emblem of the Waning British Empire
The British queen died on Thursday at age 96
The Contradictory Legacy of Mikhail Gorbachev
The Soviet leader, who died on August 30 at age 91, attempted to enact "revolution from above"
Before Lincoln Issued the Emancipation Proclamation, This Russian Czar Freed 20 Million Serfs
The parallels between the U.S. president and Alexander II, both of whom fought to end servitude in their nations, are striking
The Daring Rescue Mission That Freed 15 Hostages Held in the Colombian Jungle for Years
A new exhibition at the International Spy Museum revisits Operación Jaque, a covert 2008 plot led by the Colombian military
Shirley Temple Black's Remarkable Second Act as a Diplomat
An unpublished memoir reveals how the world’s most famous child actress became a star of the environmental movement
The Wild West Outpost of Japan's Isolationist Era
For two centuries, an extreme protectionist policy barred foreigners from setting foot in Japan—except for one tiny island
The 1983 Military Drill That Nearly Sparked Nuclear War With the Soviets
Fearful that the Able Archer 83 exercise was a cover for a NATO nuclear strike, the U.S.S.R. readied its own weapons for launch
Is China Committing Genocide Against the Uyghurs?
The Muslim minority group faces mass detention and sterilization—human rights abuses that sparked the U.S.' diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics
How the Much-Debated Elgin Marbles Ended Up in England
For two centuries, diplomat Thomas Bruce has been held up as a shameless plunderer. The real history is more complicated, argues the author of a new book
The Untold Story of the Portuguese Diplomat Who Saved Thousands From the Nazis
As the German army marched across France, Aristides de Sousa Mendes faced a choice: obey his government or follow his conscience—and risk everything
A New History Changes the Balance of Power Between Ethiopia and Medieval Europe
For centuries, a Eurocentric worldview disregarded the knowledge and strength of the African empire
France Is Sending the Statue of Liberty's 'Little Sister' on a Trip to the U.S.
The bronze replica, set to go on view at Ellis Island in July, weighs 992 pounds and stands more than 9 feet tall
Why a 200-Year-Building in Morocco Is the Only National Historic Landmark Outside the U.S.
The structure in the port city of Tangier has served as a diplomatic residence, consulate, espionage headquarters, museum and library
The Diplomatic Intrigue That Gave Morocco a Cameo Appearance in the U.S. Civil War
Confederate agents seeking European support were imprisoned by the U.S. consul, which ignited international protest
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