Final answer:
Congress authorized the use of force in April 1914 against Mexico in response to the Tampico Incident and the Veracruz Crisis. This allowed President Woodrow Wilson to protect American interests and assert American power.
Step-by-step explanation:
Congress authorized the use of force in April 1914 against Mexico due to a series of events known as the Tampico Incident and the Veracruz Crisis. In the Tampico Incident, American sailors were arrested by Mexican authorities, causing tensions between the two countries. In response, President Woodrow Wilson requested authorization from Congress to use force against Mexico in order to protect American interests and assert American power. The subsequent occupation of Veracruz by American forces in April 1914 was a result of this authorization.
Learn more about Congress authorization of force against Mexico