Wilson and The Mexican
Revolution
Mr. Williams
10th Grade U.S. History
Dollar Diplomacy
• Policy of promoting American
economic interests in other
countries and using that
economic power to achieve
American policy goals
• Taft suggested that Americans
buy out European loans
• By 1914, investment in Latin
American mines, railroads,
banana and sugar plantations
reached more than $1.6 billion
•What is a dictator?
•How does a dictator gain
and/or maintain power?
•What is a revolution?
•Why does a revolution
usually happen?
Revolution in Mexico
• Pofirio Diaz: Dictator who
ruled Mexico from 1877 to
1910
• Jailed Opponents, no freedom
of the press, and used army to
maintain peace at any cost
• America invested in Mexico
• Allowed Diaz to modernize
Mexico, expanded their
railroad system, doubled
production in factories
• BUT: most wealth in the hands
of few and most Mexicans
lived in poverty
Mexican Election of 1910
• Diaz, running for re-election,
throws his opponent Francisco
Madero in jail.
• Claimed he earned over a
million votes compared to
fewer than 200 for Madero
Mexican Revolution
• Emiliano Zapata had his army
of mostly Native Americans
ready to fight for land that
they felt should be returned to
native people
Pancho Villa
• “Robin Hood” type figure in
Mexico
• Known cattle rustler, bandit,
and murder
• Drove Diaz out of Mexico in
1911
The Dictator is Gone!!!!
Now What?
• Madero elected President,
tries to set up a Democracy
• But then is overthrown by the
commander of the
government troops
Wilson’s Response
• Most of Europe recognized
Huerta as legitimate ruler
• Wilson said he would not
support “ a government of
butchers”
The Tampico Incident
• April 19, 1914 sailors aboard
the USS Dolphin arrested by
Mexican Soldiers
• President asked Congress to
authorize use of armed forces
against Mexico
Battle of Veracruz
• German ship headed toward
port city with weapons for
Huerta
• U.S. Marines sent to city and
17 Americans compared to
over 300 Mexicans died
Revolution Concludes
• U.S. leaders feared Zapata and
Villa because of their
proposed land redistribution
• Feared U.S. economic interests
would be harmed considering
we owned roughly 25% of
their land
• Wilson supported Venustiano
Carranza as a result
• March 1916 Villa led hundreds
of troops to Columbus, N.M.
• Burned the town and killed 17
Americans
Pershing Searches for Villa
• General John J. Pershing led
more than 10,000 troops into
Mexico searching for 11
months for Pancho Villa
• By 1916, 150,000 National
Guard members stationed
along Mexican border