Cuba:
Following the Spanish-American War, Cuba was granted its freedom but, it wasn't really freedom. Cuba could not negotiate with any other country but the U.S. Cuba could only lease land to the U.S(mostly for naval ports) and the U.S could interfere in Cuban Affairs.
Mexico:
In the middle of the Mexican Revolution, nine American soldiers were detained at the port of Tampico. It was a misunderstanding and the soldiers were shortly released. President Woodrow Wilson demanded and apology and a 21 gun salute but the Mexican president at the time Victorian Huerta refused. Wilson already didn't like Huerta. He thought that he was a tyrant and a murderer who could not maintain order and democracy. President Woodrow Wilson then ordered the port of Veracruz to be seized in order to stop a german shipment of weapons; Both Huerta and his rivals were outraged. The people of Veracruz, who were not soldiers,just everyday people, fought back. About 200 Mexican citizens were killed and the U.S finally pulled out its troops once Hurta was overthrown. Wilson also ordered troops into Mexico in order to capture one of the revolution's Heros, Pancho Villa. Villa had raided Columbus, New Mexico and troops were sent out after him. The U.S would clash with both revolutionary forces and with the Mexican Army. Eventually, the U.S troops would be forced to leave, they never captured villa.
Haiti:
In order to protect American interests in Haiti, On 1915 President Woodrow Wilson ordered American troops to occupy Haiti. The United states was afraid of European interests in Haiti, specifically German and French, reducing American Influence in Haiti. The United States then transferred the Haitian Finacial reserves over the U.S, would administer the country and hold veto power over all of Haiti's governmental decisions. Haiti would be occupied for 19 years, Until 1934. The United States troops would treat "rebels" very harshly, Some examples are them kicking a head around like a soccer ball and pinning a man's body to a door and leaving it to rot. Over 15,000 Haitians were killed in those 19 years and the Us would still exert much influence in Haiti in the following years.
Dominican Republic:
The Dominican Republic was in a state of turmoil in 1916. In order to defend American Interests and claim a debt that was owed the U.S by the Dominican Republic, the United Sates Occupied the Dominican Republic. The U.S controlled custom houses in order to regain the 30 million dollar debt they were owed. Then A civil war broke out between the Dominicans Republic's president Juan Isidro Jimenez and his rival Desiderio Arias; The U.S Sent more troops to occupy the nation. President Jimenez resigned from his post rather than submit to the occupiers. Arias opposed the United States and there was a resistance to the United Sates. Arias Eventually surrendered and left the country. The united States then Imposed a Military government on the Dominican Republic. The occupation was very unpopular in the Dominica Republic but the U.S wouls Occupy it for 8 years. The U.S faced opposition from groups like the guerrilla fighters called the Gavilleros and also the common citizens refusing to cooperate. In 1924, under President Harding, the troops were pulled out of the Dominica Republic, but an import tax would be imposed in order to pay off the nation's debt to the U.S
In order to protect American interests in Haiti, On 1915 President Woodrow Wilson ordered American troops to occupy Haiti. The United states was afraid of European interests in Haiti, specifically German and French, reducing American Influence in Haiti. The United States then transferred the Haitian Finacial reserves over the U.S, would administer the country and hold veto power over all of Haiti's governmental decisions. Haiti would be occupied for 19 years, Until 1934. The United States troops would treat "rebels" very harshly, Some examples are them kicking a head around like a soccer ball and pinning a man's body to a door and leaving it to rot. Over 15,000 Haitians were killed in those 19 years and the Us would still exert much influence in Haiti in the following years.
Dominican Republic:
The Dominican Republic was in a state of turmoil in 1916. In order to defend American Interests and claim a debt that was owed the U.S by the Dominican Republic, the United Sates Occupied the Dominican Republic. The U.S controlled custom houses in order to regain the 30 million dollar debt they were owed. Then A civil war broke out between the Dominicans Republic's president Juan Isidro Jimenez and his rival Desiderio Arias; The U.S Sent more troops to occupy the nation. President Jimenez resigned from his post rather than submit to the occupiers. Arias opposed the United States and there was a resistance to the United Sates. Arias Eventually surrendered and left the country. The united States then Imposed a Military government on the Dominican Republic. The occupation was very unpopular in the Dominica Republic but the U.S wouls Occupy it for 8 years. The U.S faced opposition from groups like the guerrilla fighters called the Gavilleros and also the common citizens refusing to cooperate. In 1924, under President Harding, the troops were pulled out of the Dominica Republic, but an import tax would be imposed in order to pay off the nation's debt to the U.S
I like how you explained each event in detail rather than saying the "platt amendment" or the "tampico affair." The part about the soccer ball was very strange. its small wonder why Latin American countries held grudges against the United States. The imperialist government acted impulsively for money, territory, and glory, while draining millions of dollars from the treasury.
ReplyDeleteReally great summary of different instances where America intervened in Latin American affairs! Adding on to your point about how America has tense relationships with several Latin American countries, this pattern can be seen in the Venezuela boundary incident. This led to a war that almost broke out because the US threatened to take over Latin America if Venezuela didn't agree with the Americans' views, and as a result, their disagreements led to further tension.
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