Final answer:
The United States pursued a more aggressive role in Latin America due to fear of communism, desire to maintain control over economic interests, and strategic concerns such as the building of the Panama Canal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States pursued a more aggressive role in Latin America for various reasons. First, the fear of communist expansion in the region led to a more interventionist approach by the U.S. during the 1950s and 1960s. For example, the U.S. viewed Guatemala as drifting toward communism due to land reform and the legalization of a communist labor union.
Another factor was the desire to maintain control over economic interests and prevent European influence. American-based corporations operated freely in Latin American nations, leading to resistance to what Latin Americans perceived as economic imperialism. Nationalist leaders like Getúlio Vargas in Brazil and Lázaro Cárdenas in Mexico implemented capitalist approaches like Import Substitution Industrialization to reduce dependency.
Lastly, strategic concerns also motivated U.S. intervention. An example is the building of the Panama Canal, which led the U.S. to support Panamanians seeking independence from Colombia to secure their control over the region.