Woodrow Wilson
Foreign Policy
1914-1917
A. Wilson’s Foreign Policy Philosophy
• Both Wilson and his Secretary of
State William Jennings Bryan
believed that America had been
called to protect democracy and
advance moral progress in the
world (MORAL DIPLOMACY)
B. Intervention in Mexico
• 1876-1911: President Porfirio Diaz
dominated Mexico
• Diaz suppressed opposition and
favored foreign investors
• 1911: rebellion led by Franciso
Madero overthrew Diaz
• 1913: General Victoriano Huerta
assumed power and murdered
Madero
• Wilson supported revolutionaries
under the command of Venustiano
Carranza
• 1914 Wilson removed an embargo
on arms to Mexico in order to
support Carranza
• Wilson stationed warships off
the coast of Veracruz to halt
arms shipments to Huerta
C. Tampico Incident
April 9, 1914
• American sailors gathering supplies in
Tampico strayed into a restricted
area and were arrested
• Local Mexican commander released
them and sent an apology
• Naval American Commander demanded
that the Mexicans salute the
American flag
• Before Tampico could be resolved,
Wilson authorized a naval force to
enter Veracruz to stop an arms
shipment
• April 21, 1914 – Marines and sailors
went ashore and occupied the town
(will remain 6+ months!)
D. Pancho Villa
• Continued problems
between the U.S. &
Mexico led to the
emergence of bandits
fighting against US
involvement in
Mexico!
• March 9, 1916 –
Pancho Villa
crossed the border
into Columbus,
N.M.
• Killed 19
Americans
• Wilson sent
General John J.
Pershing with
11,000 men into
Mexico
• Pershing chased Villa
unsuccessfully for a year!!
E. Problems in the
Caribbean
• 1915 – Wilson dispatched marines to
Haiti after two revolutions
• American forces stayed there until
1934
• 1916 – Wilson dispatched marines to
the Dominican Republic and forces
remained until 1924