Woodrow Wilson and Missionary Diplomacy.

Wilson was a southern gentleman from a missionary family (a presbytterian Minister) of Scot-Irish background. Wilson was a stubborn, inflexible man. He was Dislexic, and so developed a photographic memory to compensate. He was a very effective orator. He first became a lawyer, then a political scientist. He won the presidency because the Republicans were divided between Taft and Roosevelt.

He was a skilled politician, better at domestic politics, relatively new to foreign affairs. A serious christian who beleived in the superiority of christianity, democracy, and the anglo-saxon race. He was idealistic, moralistic, and legalistic. He looked at the world in terms of good and bad, right and wrong. He had an absolute respect for law. He was also a cultural elitist: he cherished self-determination and anti-colonialism.

Missionary Diplomacy

Sought to lead the way in spreading american ideology to the world. This meant christianity, democracy, anglo-saxon values, idealism, moralism, legalism, and anti-imperialism.

Latin America

Wilson faced chaos in Latin America. A peace-loving anti-imperialist, he ended up using force and armed intervention more than any other president (seven times). Always with a noble, just cause held out as justification, of course.

Nicaragua (The Bryan-Chamoro Treaty of 1914)

Nicaragua gave the US control over its financial and military authority. This lasted until 1933.

Negotiated by William Jennings Bryan, Secretary of State, three times presidential candidate. He lost to wilson, then was appointed by Wilson. They worked well together.

Dominican Republic

A virtual protectorate of the US (1906-1922). Revolution broke out in 1913. The elected government could not maintain the peace. Another revolution in 1916. Military occupied the place. They demanded financial and military control. The government refused. Marines seized control and established a military government staffed by US citisens. The least of the evils in a bad situation.

Haiti

A US protectorate (1915-1934)

In Sept. 1915 they granted control over finances, armed forces, public works, and foreign policy. Still, the US could not cure Haiti's ills.

Mexico

Non-Recognition of Huerta's regime.

Dictator Diez was overthrown by Madera. Madera was captured by Huerta, a general, who became the new dictator. Taft supported Madera, but not Huerta. He flatly refused to recognize Huerta's regime as unconstitutional.

Occupation of Veracruz (1914)

Recognition of Carranza's Regime (1915)

Carranza emerged as opposition to Huerta.

Purshing's Expedition (1916-1917)

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