HIST222: Unit 2 Assessment
“U.S. Involvement in Latin America”
Sample Essay
The following is an example of an essay that meets all of the “Excellent” criteria from the
Saylor Foundation’s “U.S. Involvement in Latin America: Essay Rubric.” As you read
this essay, do not be worried if you chose different examples; what is most important to
take away from this assessment is the ability to locate important events in a specific
historical context and explain why they are important.
Three major instances when the United States or its citizens intervened in the
development of Latin American nations were Samuel Zemurray’s involvement in the
1905 coup in Honduras, U.S. control over Cuba via the Platt Amendment in the
aftermath of the Spanish-American War, and the role of the United States in the
creation of Panama in 1903. All three of these events are significant because they
resulted in the creation of a new Latin American nation or new government and because
they demonstrate a pattern of U.S. imperialism in Latin America.
One instance of U.S. involvement in Latin America was Samuel Zemurray’s
support for Manuel Bonilla’s successful coup in Honduras. Zemurray purchased
weapons and ammunition of Bonilla, who used them to overthrow the Honduran
government in 1905. This was a significant historical development because after the
coup, Bonilla gave Zemurray whatever concessions Zemurray needed in order to grow
bananas. As a result, Zemurray’s Cuyamel Fruit Company grew economically powerful,
which ultimately led to a merger with the United Fruit Company and further domination
of Central America for the U.S. banana industry.
A second instance of U.S. involvement in Latin America was the Platt
Amendment. In 1898, the United States declared war on Spain in the name of creating
a free and independent Cuba; however, the United States ensured that it could maintain
control over Cuban affairs after the war via the Platt Amendment. The United States
forced Cuba to accept the Platt Amendment as part of its constitution in 1902 as a
condition for the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from the island. The Platt
Amendment allowed the United States to intervene militarily in Cuban affairs whenever
it saw fit, which it did several times. One notable instance was in 1915, when U.S.
President Woodrow Wilson sent troops to Cuba to allegedly protect the island from the
threat of German invasion. The Platt Amendment was a significant historical event
because, while it helped lead to the creation of a nominally independent Cuba, it also
left a lasting resentment toward the United States that would resurface decades later
when Fidel Castro came to power.
A third instance of U.S. involvement was its role in the creation of Panama. The
Isthmus of Panama was a part of Columbia until 1903, when President Theodore
Roosevelt conspired with Philippe Bunau-Varilla to create a revolt in Panama.
Roosevelt sent a U.S. warship to Columbia to prevent Columbia from sending any
troops to suppress the Panamanian revolt. Furthermore, Roosevelt quickly recognized
the Republic of Panama as an independent nation mere days after the revolt began,
preventing Columbia from making any efforts to retake the isthmus. This was an
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especially important event, because it led to the United States obtaining a territorial
concession that would later become the Panama Canal Zone. Roosevelt’s desire to
build a canal through Panama was the motivation for his support for the revolt. As with
the war with Spain to “free” Cuba and as with Samuel Zemurray’s support for Manuel
Bonilla, U.S. involvement with Panama was ultimately to further its own interests.
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