The United States military intervention in Latin America from 1898 to about 1933 was driven by a combination of economic, political, and strategic interests. Here are some of the causes and effects of this intervention:
Causes:
- Economic interests: The United States wanted to protect its economic interests in the region, including access to natural resources and markets for American goods.
- Political interests: The United States wanted to promote democracy and stability in the region, and to prevent the spread of communism and other ideologies that were seen as a threat to American interests.
- Strategic interests: The United States wanted to establish military bases and naval stations in the region to protect American shipping lanes and to project American power globally.
Effects:
- Increased American influence: U.S. military intervention in Latin America helped to increase American influence in the region, often at the expense of local governments and populations.
- Political instability: U.S. intervention often led to political instability in the region, as local governments were overthrown and replaced with regimes that were more favorable to American interests.
- Anti-American sentiment: U.S. intervention in Latin America contributed to anti-American sentiment in the region, as many Latin Americans saw American intervention as a violation of their sovereignty and a threat to their independence.
Some examples of U.S. military intervention in Latin America during this period include the Spanish-American War (1898), the occupation of Cuba (1898-1902), the Panama Canal Zone (1903-1979), the Banana Wars (1898-1934), and the occupation of Haiti (1915-1934).