Imperialism In Latin America

During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s the United States of America began to claim itself as a dominant world power. During this time America began its campaign in imperialism and world politics. American presented great aggression and even contradiction in its play to become a world power. America would come under the guise of the helper but left with American authority firmly entrenched. No better examples stand than the long-term influence America had in Hawaii, on the Spanish-American War, in Latin America, and in World War I. One of America’s first demonstrations of aggression in foreign policy was with the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaiian Islands were an excellent stepping point to a trade route with China, and King Kamehameha I

Eventually a constitutional monarchy was established with an American Prime Minister presiding over the islands. The natives eventually found themselves forced under the thumbs of America in most aspects of their society and government. The natives attempted to force out the Americans by putting in power the Nationalistic Queen Liliuokalani, who attempted to resist the onslaught of Americanization. Queen Liliuokalani was eventually ousted in coup d’état, which resulted in Hawaii being annexed into the United States as a territory. America’s “neighborly-aggression” would soon be its standard practice for most of its foreign policy. America’s aggressive foreign policy stance would

During his second administration, Theodore Roosevelt lived by his proverb of “Speak softly, and carry a bit stick,” that America should spread its power throughout the world. He followed these principles in America’s foreign policy during his term as President. Roosevelt felt a greater need to expand the Monroe Doctrine to Latin America. While the Monroe Doctrine was an effective tool to bar European expansion into the Americas, Roosevelt modified the Monroe Doctrine with the Roosevelt Corollary to allow America to intervene in all foreign affairs in neighboring nations. While this act kept Latin America out of the control of Europeans, specifically Britain, Italy, and Germany, it put Latin America in the hands of the United States. Just as with Cuba, America presented itself as a “great protector,” to fight off foreign powers, in reality, America asserted itself over Latin America and used Latin America for its own gain such as the Panama Canal. Woodrow Wilson’s dealings with Latin America were no less intrusive. During a span of about ten years, Mexico became the focus of America as a result of a series of revolutions. After the dictator, Francisco Madero, was disposed, a military general Victoriano Huerta came into power. Wilson refused to recognize Huerta as the new President of Mexico, and hoped doing so would inspire revolutionaries to overthrow him.