The Switzerland of the Americas : Costa Rica and the foundations of cordial relations with the United States - - Laying the foundations of change : the United States, President Rafael Angel Calderón, and the rise of José Figueres, 1940-1944 - - The times are a-changing : the emergence of problems between the Picado administration and the United States, 1944-1948 - - The first Latin American battleground of the Cold War : the U.S. response to the Costa Rican civil war of 1948 -- The first time around : the Costa Rican junta and the United States, 1948-1949 - - The calm before the storm : the presidency of Otílio Ulate and the rise of the Partido Liberación Nacional, 1949-1953 - - Resistance and accommodation : the United States and the nationalism of José Figueres, 1953-1957 - - Oftentimes the tail wags the dog : trends in relations between Costa Rica and the United States during the rise of José Figueres.