An analysis of seemingly imperialistic behavior by the United States in Latin America (late 1800's); was the US guided by economic or political incentive to intervene?

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The interference of the United States in the Latin American countries of Cuba and

Mexico was primarily motivated due to American desire towards economic expansion and resulted in the U.S. supporting revolutionary factions, helping overthrow governments and creating of dictatorships in Mexico while in Cuba the U.S. took a more active role, physically invading the country, instituting pro-American provisions in the Cuban constitution and forcing economic dependence.

The support towards pro-American factions, due to economic interest was apparent even in the early stages of the Mexican revolution. When General Diaz feared "that North American domination of investment in Mexico threatened Mexican economic and political independence" (Keen 270) and favored British interests of American ones, he clearly tried to stop American economic expansion. Hoping that Francisco Madero would "display a more positive attitude toward United States interests" (270), Keen suggest this was the reason Madero was allowed to "organize the revolution on U.S.

soil with little interference." (270) This support of revolutionary groups in Mexico was quite passive to what would later go on.

Madero then had the tables turn on him by the U.S. when he "refused to show special favors to American capitalists [...] This independent spirit, plus Madero's legalization of trade unions and strikes [...] alienated the United States." (Keen 272) Madero's failure to unconditionally accept American economic dominance resulted in American Ambassador Henry Wilson that "Madero's government was unable to maintain sufficient order to provide the necessary protection to U.S. interests." (Skidmore 106) When the Mexican government failed to take action, Wilson "met secretly with the rebel leaders [...] in his embassy, where the terms and details of the coup were concluded," (Skidmore 108) involving the U.S. in a successful attempt at revolution.

But the United States, didn't just create a revolution, it created a...