TR in Latin America• 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

Dollar Diplomacy

• Taft follows TR & also supported 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

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

Moral Diplomacy• Wilson follows Taft but DID NOT support a large U.S.

role in Latin America– “The force of America is the force of moral principle”

Moral Diplomacy:

The responsibility to condemn imperialism, spread democracy &

promote peace–What do you think TR would say to this!?

• Ironically, Wilson orders military intervention in LA more than any prior president

– Marines to Haiti & Dominican Republic to “enforce peace” until the 1930s!

Revolution in Mexico

• Constant turnover of leaders who would promise democratic reform & then dictate their people

• Constant civil war• Newest dictator was Victoriano Huerta

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?• Stigma against the Mexican people?

– ”Government of butchers”

– Except things got worse & more brutal

- 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; Venustiano Carranza

- Problem: he’s also an intense dictator!We had lost sight of protection of the people & were hungry for control

Finally…U.S. Intervenes

• 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

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

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