TR in Latin America
•TR proclaims U.S. has a right to intervene in LatinAmerica by using “international police power”
“international police power”: U.S. could force LatinAmericans to pay their debts to foreign nations &would keep those nations from meddling in LatinAmerican affairs
- To preserve law & order
- Presidents continued to use this RooseveltCorollary to intervene in Latin America
Dollar Diplomacy
•Taft follows TR & also supported a large U.S. role in LatinAmerica
•“Substitute dollars for bullets” – he urged U.S. bankers toinvest in Latin America
–Dollar diplomacy: building strong economic ties to Latin Americato gain control & input
–U.S. investors responded eagerly
Dollar Diplomacy
–Pros
•Built roads, R&R’s, harbors
•= increased trade for U.S. & local countries
–Cons
•U.S. companies meddled in the political affairs of host counties
•U.S. used military force to keep order (the bully?)
–1912 – revolution erupts in Nicaragua & the U.S. sent in marines toprotect U.S. investments before the people
Moral Diplomacy
DID NOT •Wilson follows Taft but DID NOT support a largeU.S. role in Latin America
–“The force of America is the force of moral principle”
Moral Diplomacy:
The responsibility to condemnimperialism, spread democracy &promote peace
–What do you think TR would say to this!?
•Ironically, Wilson orders military intervention in LAmore than any prior president
–Marines to Haiti & Dominican Republic to “enforce peace”until the 1930s!
Revolution in Mexico
•Constant turnover of leaders who would promisedemocratic reform & then dictate their people
•Constant civil war
•Newest dictator was Victoriano Huerta
Revolution in Mexico
–Wilson tried to stay neutral & hoped Mexico woulddevelop a democratic government without U.S.interference
•Do you think this was a legitimate theory?
•Do you think he was afraid?
•Stigma against the Mexican people?
–”Government of butchers”
–Except things got worse & more brutal
-1914 Mexican troops arrest several U.S. sailors for gettinginvolved in a local Mexican dispute-1914 Mexican troops arrest several U.S. sailors for gettinginvolved in a local Mexican dispute
-Wilson orders the U.S. Navy to occupy the Mexican port ofVeracruz-Wilson orders the U.S. Navy to occupy the Mexican port ofVeracruz
-Since we are against Huerta, we are in effect in support ofhis rival; Venustiano Carranza-Since we are against Huerta, we are in effect in support ofhis rival; Venustiano Carranza
-Problem: he’s also an intense dictator!-Problem: he’s also an intense dictator!
We had lost sight of protection of the people & werehungry for controlWe had lost sight of protection of the people & werehungry for control
Finally…U.S. IntervenesFinally…U.S. Intervenes
•War General Francisco “Pancho”Villa wanted to intervene & takeout Carranza to protect theMexican people
–Problem: we support Carranza
•Spring 1916 – Villa’s soldiersremoved 17 U.S. citizens from atrain in Mexico & shot them
•Summer 1916 – Villa raids atown in New Mexico & killed 18Americans
The Reaction
•Wilson sends General John J.Pershing with an army ofseveral thousands of soldiersinto Mexico to capture Villa
•11 months went by withoutcapture & Wilson orderedPershing to withdraw but ourrelationship with Mexico wasHEAVILY strained
The Result
•U.S. troops & civilians start to realize thatAmerica’s role in world affairs had dramaticallychanged over the years
–1.) U.S. now had stations, troops & ships in Asia & LatinAmerica
–2.) Business interests spanned the globe
Now it was off to attempt to conquer more territory in Europe
