TR in Latin America (Part 2)

1. TR in Latin America (Part 2) • TR proclaims U.S. has a right to intervene in Latin America by using “international police power” • “international police power”: U.S. could force Latin Americans to pay their debts to foreign nations & would keep those nations from meddling in Latin American affairs • - To preserve law & order • - Presidents continued to use this Roosevelt Corollary to intervene in Latin America

2. Dollar Diplomacy • Taft follows TR & also supports a large U.S. role in Latin America • “Substitute dollars for bullets” – he urged U.S. bankers to invest in Latin America • Dollar diplomacy: building strong economic ties to Latin America to gain control & input • U.S. investors responded eagerly

3. 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 to protect U.S. investments before the people

4. Moral Diplomacy • Wilson was president after Taft but DID NOT support a large U.S. role in Latin America • “The force of America is the force of moral principle”

5. Moral Diplomacy: The responsibility to condemn imperialism, spread democracy & promote peace • Ironically, Wilson orders military intervention in LA more than any prior president • Marines were sent to Haiti & Dominican Republic to “enforce peace” until the 1930s! ?

6. Revolution in Mexico • There was a constant turnover of leaders who would promise democratic reform & then dictate their people • Constant state of civil war • Newest dictator was Victoriano Huerta

7. Revolution in Mexico • Wilson tried to stay neutral & hoped Mexico would develop a democratic government without U.S. interference… • Do you think this was a legitimate theory? • Do you think he was afraid? • Do you think he held a stigma against the Mexican people? • He referred to the Mexican gov’t as the ”Government of butchers” • …except things got worse & more brutal

8. Finally…the U.S. Intervenes • 1914 Mexican troops arrest several U.S. sailors for getting involved in a local Mexican dispute • Wilson orders the U.S. Navy to occupy the Mexican port of Veracruz • Since we are against Huerta, we are in effect in support of his rival; VenustianoCarranza • Problem: he’s also an intense dictator! • We had lost sight of protection of the people & were hungry for control

9. War General Francisco “Pancho” Villa wanted to intervene & take out Carranza to protect the Mexican people • Problem: we support Carranza • Spring 1916 – Villa’s soldiers removed 17 U.S. citizens from a train in Mexico & shot them • Summer 1916 – Villa raids a town in New Mexico & killed 18 Americans

10. The Reaction • Wilson sends General John J. Pershing with an army of several thousands of soldiers into Mexico to capture Villa • 11 months went by without capture & Wilson ordered Pershing to withdraw but our relationship with Mexico was HEAVILY strained

11. The Result • U.S. troops & civilians start to realize that America’s role in world affairs had dramatically changed over the years • 1.) U.S. now had stations, troops & ships in Asia & Latin America • 2.) Business interests spanned the globe Now it was off to attempt to conquer more territory in Europe