CARIBBEAN HISTORY The USA in the Caribbean

1776 - 1985Prepared by CASAH 2014

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVESReasons for U.S’s

interest in the Caribbean btw

1776-1870

DEFENSE

EXPANSIONISMUNITED STATES IDEOLOGY

TRADE AND INVESTMENTS

United States in the Caribbean 1776 - 1985

Uncle Sam wants you

In this lesson the following will be reviewed

Factors that influenced the United States interest in the Caribbean

Concepts that promoted US superiority

The effects of United States rule on the Caribbean

CUBA ( 1898)

PUERTO RICO ( 1898)

PANAMA ( 1903)

HAITI ( 1915)

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ( 1916)

GRENADA ( 1983)

Factors responsible for U.S’s involvement in the

Caribbean territories

ImperialismTrade routes

National Security

CubaPuerto Rico

PanamaHaiti

Political instabilityForeign interferencesIdeological Conflict

Dominican RepublicGrenada

ECONOMIC, POLITICAL AND CULTURAL CONSEQUENCES OF U.S’S

INVOLVEMENT IN:

13

Sinking of the Maine in Havana HarborWhat?

•USS Maine explodes in Havana, Cuba Harbor,

•“Spark” that started the war•“Remember the Maine! To hell with Spain!”

How did it lead to war?

•Most Americans believe it was Spain’s fault

•1976 US Navy analyzed the sunken ship, decided that the hull blew OUT not IN

Political Factors

The US wanted to create a situation which would safe guard the US against enemy attack. For tis reason the US constructed military bases and centers in the Caribbean.

From around the beginning of the 20th Century, Britain became less able to maintain world wide control of its empire, this in effect gave control of the Caribbean to the US who was better able to defend it.

The Caribbean territories were of great importance to the US as members of the United Nations because their support of the US helped make them a super power.

Ideological/ Humanitarian factors

Americans had missionary and humanitarian desires to spread some of the benefit of their civilization (which they thought was superior to people in the Caribbean who they thought were backward). They wanted to build schools and hospitals to eradicate diseases, to improve communication and government.

The US saw itself as a champion of democracy especially since World War 1 and was interested in establishing solid foundations in the western Hemisphere including the Caribbean.

The US believed that it had to spread its influence in order to remain a world power and also to extend America ideas and intuitions to other parts of the world.

Economic Factors

North Americans had developed trading and business interest in the region before 1776 and this interest continued even through the navigational acts tended to restrict US trade interests. However once the navigation laws were removed this stimulated US interest in the Caribbean.

Dollar Diplomacy Dollar Diplomacy - Giving aid and soft loans to Caribbean

countries in order to foster good relations and get their leaders to give in to US policies.

It was basically a way for the US to control events in the Caribbean. The main feature of dollar diplomacy was intervention in the political and economic life of neighbours. Haiti, Panama, Dominican Republic and Cuba were all affected.

There were significant economic investments in these countries by Americans so that governments claimed to be stabilizing the counties to ensure economic progress when in fact it was really securing American interests.

Between 1900 and 1930, the United States intervened in at least 5 Caribbean and Latin American countries. The US government said that the reason for the interference was to make the governments in these countries more stable but their real intention seemed to be to take control of their economies.

Pax Americana

Good Neighbour Policy

Good Neighbour Policy - A policy of non- intervention and non- interference. and was geared towards creating more positive, friendly relationships with the countries in South and Central America and the Caribbean.

This policy was announced in 1933. It described the policy as one where the US would not intervene in the domestic affairs of other countries even when there was civil unrest in those countries.

The policy was introduced by President Franklin D Roosevelt. This policy was different to the other US policies as the US would no longer interfere in other countries' affairs claiming to do so to help bring stability to the countries.

The policy was also different as the Americans would not be using their military or economic influence to intimidate other countries