Factors that influenced the United States interest in the Caribbean up to 1985

Political Factors

The US wanted to create a situation which would safe guard the US against enemy attack. For
this reason the US constructed military bases and centers in the Caribbean. For example-
Guantanomo Bay -Cuba

From around the beginning of the 20th Century, Britain became less able to maintain worldwide
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 American 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.

Concepts that promote US superiority

N.B. A concept is an idea or thought. Those concepts are also referred to as ideologies or
paradigms which are ways of thinking.

MANIFEST DESTINY
This concept came about in 1801 when Thomas Jefferson, the US President said that it was a
natural idea that the US would dominate the Americans including the Caribbean in wealth,
power and territory. The US government at this time and from then on promoted the idea that the
US was culturally superior and that the US was expected to dominate the Caribbean.

MONROE DOCTRINE

Overview

From the beginning of the 20th century the US government was pursuing a policy to become one
of the world super power. In 1823, the US president at the time, James Monroe stated very
clearly an idea that became known as the Monroe Doctrine. He said that America would resist
any attempts by foreign especially the Europeans to reclaim and recolonize any part of the
American continent and the Caribbean.

Details

The Monroe Doctrine, proclaimed on the 2nd December 1823, outlined how the USA would deal
with other countries in the Americas (South Central America and the Caribbean). It was named
after President James Monroe (1758 -1831), the fifth president of the USA , who occupied office
from 1817 to 1825.

The Monroe Doctrine had four basic points;

● The USA would not interfere in the internal affairs of, or the wars between European
powers.
● The USA recognizes and would not interfere with existing colonies and dependencies in
the Western hemisphere.
● The Western hemisphere was closed to future colonization.
● Any attempt by a European power to oppress or control any nation in the Western
hemisphere would by viewed as a hostile act against the USA.

OTHER STRATEGIES

● Roosevelt Corollary​ - In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt added in 'Roosevelt

Corollary' to the Monroe Doctrine, which stated that in cases of flagrant and chronic
wrongdoing by a Latin American nation, the USA could intervene in the internal affairs
of the nation.

● 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.

● 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.

Why was the Good Neighbour policy seen as being necessary at the time?

The policy was felt to be necessary as the United States was increasingly seen as being
interventionist and imperialist. The populations in other countries were bitter and US policies
were being criticized. The policy was a bid to re- establish the US as a friendly country in the
region and one that did not interfere in the local affairs in other countries.

The term ' American imperialism' was coined as the Americans sought to establish
themselves in the Caribbean to get economic control. They used force and economic power
to ensure this. There were several countries that were literally taken over by the Americans in
the 1930s. These included Cuba, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. They had also
bought St Croix, St Thomas and St John for 25 million in 1917. The US were seen after that
as modern day colonizers.

As the regional people became more sophisticated they grew to resent this intrusion by the
Americans and Caribbean governments began to object to the American presence. There
were also Americans who felt that these activities were wrong and illegal and also protested
American intervention in Caribbean and Latin American issues.

US INTERVENTION POLICY

During the 18th Century the 2 main priorities were to;

● prevent European involvement in the Americas

● expand territory across North America.
During the 19th and 20th Centuries the priority was to control the Caribbean basin, including
Central America.

The effects of the United States rule on the Caribbean

Economic factors

●
In Cuba, public buildings were repaired a school system was properly developed. Tax
collection was improved and railways was requested.

● In the Dominican Republic road building started, health centers and clinics were built and
water systems were developed.

● In Puerto Rico, in the 1940s, Operation Bootstrap was a large programme to developed to
large programmed to develop industries.

● A Caribbean Commission was created during World War 2 aided the building of roads
and improved food production in the Caribbean.

● The United States government invested a lot of money into the sugar industry. Large
plantations were developed under American control.

● Other areas where money was invested were tobacco and banana cultivation, mining and
railways construction. Hotels were constructed by American investors.

Political factors
Military occupation of Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic resulted in stable democracy for
some time afterwards. However, democracy and stable government did not last long. There is
still unrest to this day.

Policies were put in place to put the Caribbean a main priority of the Americans. The following
are some of these policies; The Monroe Doctrine, The Roosevelt Corollary, The good neighbour
policy and the Alliance for progress.

● The presence of the US has helped promote the spread of democracy in the Caribbean
especially by opposing the laws set by rulers who took power by illegal means. In other
words, the Us Presence prevented the creation of authoritarian and militaristic leaders and
groups. In the Dominican Republic for instance, all senior officials were removed and
replaced by US military officers.

● By the 1980's, the US opposition to communism and its demonstrated willingness to use
force kept the USSR from getting control of the Caribbean
 Social factors

●
A Virgin Island Company was developed in the Virgin Islands to help ease
unemployment there.

● Volunteers from the US Peace Corps were sent to the Caribbean to work as teachers in
some countries.

● Agricultural expansion created many jobs within the Caribbean to the extend that
labourers migrated from Puerto Rico to work in some West Indian islands.

● West Indians from the Lesser Antilles also left their countries to migrate to the United
States. This resulted in the 'brain drain' which is a condition that occurs when skilled
educated persons have to work in another country leaving their own country with a
shortage of skilled people.

● Americans settled in Trinidad and built roads, ports, runways and settlements during
World War 2 when the island was used as a base.

Cultural factors

Many of the Caribbean workers on the Panama Canal brought back aspects of American
culture to their islands. These included modes of dress and speech that tried to affect the
American accent. The developing tourism industry also ensured that there were many
opportunities for interaction with American culture by Caribbean nationals.

Between the 1930s and 1940s, there was a wave of migration into the United State.
People returning from that country brought with them cultural influences of speech,
dress, music and even food. The establishment of military bases and the expansion of the
oil industry in Trinidad also saw more American influence as Americans began to live
and exist alongside their Caribbean neighbours.

The era of the 1960s and the 1970s saw mixed reactions to the American impact on the
Caribbean. The increased economic activity made people reluctant to criticize the
shortcomings. Fortunately, the fears that American culture would dominate the region
and make Caribbean traditions extinct did not materialize. However, American culture
with its various methods of dissemination did make deep inroads the Caribbean psyche.

The Nature and consequences of the Americans involvement in the Britsh Caribbean
between 1939 and 1985

The United States pursued a good neighbour policy with nations in the region. The Roosevelt
government recognized that the American image abroad, but especially in the Caribbean and the
rest of the Americas, was tarnished. The years of the big stick policy and that of dollar
diplomacy fast disappeared.

By 1985, The Americans had been involved in helping several countries in the region,
economically . Most Caribbean countries were democratic except for Cuba which was
Communist.

In 1983, Grenada was invaded by American led forces as the legitimately elected government
had been thrown out. There was widespread criticism of the role that the Americans played
although they were invited in to fight against rebellious non democratic governments.

Positive and negative effects of the US presence in Trinidad

Positive effects

Local farming got a boost as additional food had to be grown for the soldiers

Port facilities were improved to bring in military equipment

Roads linking Chaguaramas, Maracas, Carlsen Field and Wallerfield were constructed
which opened up more areas for settlement.

Negative effects

● Hundreds of land owners were involuntarily removed from their land in Chaguaramas
and other areas.It was such a serious issue that in 1960, the Prime Minister Eric Williams
led a protest march in 1960 for the USA to return the land that they occupied in Trinidad
to Trinidad and Tobago

● For many years locals were unable to visit beaches in Trinidad as these areas were used
as US bases.

● During the periods of the American presence, brothels were built which employed local
prostitutes to cater to the needs of the American soldiers.

Question and Answer

(a)​ ​Give 3 economic benefits of American intervention in the Caribbean region between
1900 and 1933.

Three economic benefits of the American intervention were; firstly that there was an increase in
the amount of American capital in the countries. The capital that was invested filtered through
the countries. Secondly, their intervention brought some stability to the region. The violence that
often took place in countries such as Haiti temporarily stopped when the Americans came.
Thirdly, the American presence was seen as a boost for other businesses to develop.

(b) Name 3 countries where the United States intervened during this time.

Three countries that the Americans intervened in during this period were Haiti, Nicaragua and
the Dominican Republic.

(c) What were the MAIN reasons for American intervention during this period?

The main reasons for American intervention were the following; fulfilling a role as regional
policemen via dollar diplomacy and big stick policy, protecting American capital and ensuring
regional stability.

The Americans saw it as their role as regional policemen to preserve stability in this period. It
was not difficult as they were the strongest power in the region. They believed in the Monroe
Doctrine and Manifest Destiny that it was their rightful place to dominate the region.

The policies of big stick and dollar diplomacy were really tools used to put this plan into action.
The threat of violence by the Americans was able to ensure that civil disturbances in Caribbean
countries did not get violent.

The Americans wanted to ensure that their capital investments were protected in these countries.
In the period 1900- 1933 there were millions of American dollars invested in the region. Because
they had a lot of money invested in the region, the Americans believed that it was their right to
interfere in the affairs in the region.

The US government felt that it was important to American security that there was regional
security. They felt that their stability was tied up with Caribbean's stability as they had capital
tied up in the Caribbean.

Related past paper questions

1. Name 2 British Caribbean territories in which the US set up military bases during World War
2. Give 2 ways in which British Caribbean territories benefited from the US bases.

3. Give 3 ways in which the US affected economic growth in the British Caribbean between
1945 and 1985.

4. Explain how the US influenced the economy of the British Caribbean between 1945 and 1962.
US INVOLVEMENT IN THE CARIBBEAN
CUBA

American investors began to invest heavily in Cuba around 1870 and generally became very
involved in the country's economy. The war against Spain that was happening at this time meant
loss for many American investors because Cuba was a Spanish colony.

From 1901 to 1934 the Cuban constitution allowed for the US to legally intervene in Cuban
domestic affairs. Between 1934 and 1958, the US played no role in Cuban politics.

However, economic investments continued. Fidel Castro took power in 1959. The communist
policies of the Castro government were seen as horrible by the US. In 1961 it placed a wholesale
trade embargo on all kinds of shipments to Cuba. It remains in place today. ​N.B An embargo is
an official ban on trade or other commercial activity with a particular country).

PUERTO RICO

The end of Spanish rule in the Caribbean came with the giving of Puerto Rico to the United
States. ( Cuba also became an American protectorate but later became independent).

PANAMA

The building of the Panama Canal fostered America's keen interest in the country. The US
government at the time which was run by Theodore Roosevelt enabled the US to get the land that
was to be made into the canal. This was important to international onlookers as it displayed the
'big stick' policy of the US.

HAITI

Periodic instability in the country had contributed to economic downfall in Haiti. Between THE
1900s and World War I, the Americans intervened in the country using military force and took
over custom and revenue collections on the island.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

America's imperialist policy in the Caribbean and surrounding region continued to be

demonstrated in this country. Military intervention after uprisings in this country led to American
control.