Why did the United States get involved in Central American revolutions?
Answer a. President Roosevelt wanted a strong American presence in Cuba b. President Roosevelt believed the United States was responsible for keeping the peace in Central America c. President Wilson advocated for self-determination in government d. President Taft wanted to ensure American companies could not set up overseas monopolies
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is b. President Roosevelt believed the United States was responsible for keeping the peace in Central America.
The United States became involved in Central American revolutions primarily due to the belief that the U.S. had a duty to maintain stability and order in the region. This policy was known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. President Theodore Roosevelt argued that the United States had the right to intervene in the affairs of Latin American countries to preserve order and protect American interests.
The Monroe Doctrine, established in the 19th century, had already asserted that European powers should not interfere in the Western Hemisphere. Roosevelt expanded this idea by declaring that the United States would act as an “international police power” in Latin America to ensure that European nations did not intervene in the region. Roosevelt believed that the U.S. had a responsibility to prevent instability, especially if it threatened American investments or geopolitical interests.
One key example of this policy was Roosevelt’s involvement in the Dominican Republic. The country was struggling with debt, and there was concern that European nations might intervene to collect payments. To avoid European intervention, Roosevelt sent U.S. troops to oversee customs collections and manage the country’s finances.
This interventionist approach was aimed at maintaining U.S. influence and ensuring that Central American nations would remain stable and friendly to American economic and political interests. Roosevelt’s foreign policy in Central America was part of a broader strategy to strengthen American power in the Western Hemisphere and avoid potential threats from European countries or local revolutions.
President Wilson, who succeeded Roosevelt, also took an active role in Latin America, but his focus was on spreading democracy and promoting self-determination, which often led to different types of interventions.