US+Involvement

First, we will try to understand US-Latin American relations

Then we will deal with US-USSR (formerly Russia) relations

Cold War period overlays on an extensive historical background

Then we will work through our chronology from 1950-1990 of Cold War in Latin America

I'm going to forego the Spanish period and post-independence in each country

We will use Monroe Doctrine as link between Spanish phase and US interest/involvement

Monroe Doctrine [|https://history.state.gov/milestones/1801-1829/monro]

Monroe Doctrine (Adele's "Hello" Parody) https://youtu.be/9KYRepV9IQU


 * US-Mexican War**

The Annexation of Texas, the Mexican-American War, and the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1845–1848 []

Manifest Destiny https://youtu.be/AHemd90ZdsU Manifest Destiny https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifest_destiny

Territorial Expansion, Filibustering, and U.S. Interest in Central America and Cuba, 1849–1861 []

Blaine and Pan Americanism, 1880s/1890s []


 * Spanish–American War (1898)**

Spanish-American war []


 * Motives for war**:

[Underlying versus immediate] [How does this compare to today?]

U.S. had sizable economic interests in Cuba and a lobbying group of 100,000 Cubans who lived in the U.S.

1. Humanitarians. Believed Spain was too cruel in fighting rebels.

2. Hawks (jingoes). Believed America should chastise Spain.

3. "Yellow journalism." Circulation war: Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst.

US Diplomacy and Yellow Journalism []

4. De Lome letter—Spanish Ambassador to U.S. criticized McKinley []

5. Sinking of the U.S. battleship Maine. Blown up in Havana harbor. Probably an internal explosion.


 * The War Itself**


 * Teller Amendment**. U.S. had no intention of taking possession of Cuba.

1. Short and glorious—"a splendid little war."

2. Major battles:

a. Manila. George Dewey defeated Spanish fleet in Manila.

b. San Juan Hill. Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders.

3. U.S. defeated Spain.

4. Beginning of a U.S. empire.


 * Treaty of Paris** (1898)

1. Guam: to the U.S.

2. Puerto Rico: to the U.S.

3. Cuba: granted independence by Spain

4. **Platt Amendment** permited U.S. intervention in Cuba's internal affairs

5. Philippines: U.S. paid $20 million to Spain.


 * Philippines: take it or not take it**

The proposed treaty with Spain sparked an important debate in America: Should we acquire the Philippines?

1. Those in favor of acquiring Philippines: imperialist case. Advocated an empire.

Appealed to motives of Patriotism Manifest destiny Commerce.

2. Those against acquiring Philippines: anti–imperialist case.

Many felt imperialism counter to U.S. principles. Others felt U.S. could expand markets without ruling other countries. Labor unions felt they would be undercut by importation of low–wage contract workers.

3. Result: we paid $20 million and acquired the Philippines as an American possession

Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, 1904 []

Importance of Roosevelt Corollary Background to multiple US interventions

Sphere of influence notion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphere_of_influence

Dollar Diplomacy, 1909–1913 [] Dollar Diplomacy https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollar_diplomacy

Building the Panama Canal, 1903–1914 []

Protect Panama Canal during WWI and WWII

Interventions Banana Wars/Small Wars Manual Connection to the interventions Major ones that affect our story: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic [] []

The Great Depression and U.S. Foreign Policy https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/great-depression

Good Neighbor policy under FDR Based on non-intervention https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Neighbor_policy Good Neighbor Policy, 1933 []

Interventions generally ended with beginning of Great Depression

What specific causation of Depression and Good Neighbor policy

Mexican Expropriation of Foreign Oil, 1938 [nationalization theme] US did not react adversely []

World War II US pressure to support the Allies

Act of Chapultepec: pledge of collective security Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance Re: 1945 (February-March) Act of Chapultepec and 1947 Rio Treaty https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inter-American_Treaty_of_Reciprocal_Assistance