THE UNITED STATES IN THE CARIBBEAN

The United States gained its independence from Britain in 1776. The Treaty of Paris, was signed on
September 3, 1783, between the American colonies and Great Britain, ended the American
Revolution and formally recognized the United States as an independent nation. Britain, France
and Spain feared and were worried about U. S. influence on their colonies following her
independence. These three nations tried to restrict the influence of the United States. Britain and
France restricted US trade to their Caribbean Colonies. Relations with Spain were most important to
the United States because Spain held Florida, Louisiana and the port of New Orleans, cutting the US
off from the Gulf of Mexico. The United States gained access to the Gulf of Mexico by being granted
the use of New Orleans under the Pinckney’s Treaty in 1795 and gained access to the gulf by
purchasing Louisiana from France in 1803. Spain relinquished Florida to the US in 1821. Even though
they had full access to the Caribbean, they could play no part in the Caribbean. Cuba was blocking
the United States from further penetration into The Caribbean.

Reasons for the United States interest in the Caribbean 1776-1870

Defence- the United States had reasons for military intervention in Cuba between 1868 and 1898 to;
protect US investments, because

1. Spain did wish to emancipate slaves and grant internal self-government

2. Other imperialistic powers had interest in Cuba
3. The blowing up of the USS marine battleship in the Havana Harbour.

United States Ideology- the United States with the help of some Cubans took part in the Spanish-
American Cuban War of 1898. This brought an end to the Spanish- American Empire. The US
expected Cuba to gain independence from Spain and that Cuba would gravitate towards her. They
wanted to weaken Cuban? They feared Cuba’s Communistic (ownership) influence in the region.

Expansionism- the US wanted to gain overseas colonies. Expansionists wanted to see outposts of
the American way of life around the world. They believed that they could give these new overseas
islands “a better” way of life. From as early as the announcement of the Monroe Doctrine in
1823, the United States stated that they were major power in this hemisphere and that other
European nation should keep out. They wanted to dominate and establish political rule in the
Americas. They wanted the Caribbean to gravitate only to them for any sought of assistance.

Trade and Investments- From 1868 the US dominated Cuba’s economy taking 83% of her
exports. US invested in the mechanisation of the sugar industry. In 1895 US investment was
50,000,000. There were Americans who owned land and Businesses in Cuba. Cuba was dangerously
dependent on the US investments therefore it was necessary for them to demand protection for
their investments.

Factors responsible For US involvement in the Caribbean 1898- 1985 :

1. Cuba (1898)

 US recognised Cuba’s independence after the defeat of the Spanish after the Spanish-
American- Cuban War of 1898.

 The US expanded its role as an imperial power. Cuba gained its independence but soon after
they were controlled by another imperial power figure.
 The Platt Amendment gave United States right to bases in Cuba in 1901. They had two naval
bases in Cuba: Guantanamo Bay and Bahia Honda.

 Reasons for US military intervention: civil unrest in 1906. The Cuban president requested it;
in 1917 election irregularities surrounding the re-election of General Mario Garcia Menocal;
in 1933 there was political crisis and an army revolt. President Machando lost Power to
Carlos Manuel de Cespedes.

 Investments and Trade- Gradually US dominated business in Cuba, e.g. by 1927 42.7% of
Cuban sugar industry was US controlled. Cuban Tourism developed in 1920s when the US
banned alcohol. Many tourists came to Havana to escape the Prohibition; therefore many
resorts had to be built to facilitate tourists. The US earned millions from tourism.

 In 1953 Fidel Castro tried to overthrow Batista but failed and he was imprisoned. In 1956
Castro was released. He went to Mexico to prepare for a revolution. In 1959 he along with
his brother Raul Castro, Che Guevara and nine other revolutionaries and was successful. The
US felt that the action taken by Castro and his Fidelistas were wrong and they intervened by
sending three destroyers and two submarines to Havana.

 In 1961- the US trained some anti- Castro Cubans exiles to invade Cuba to overthrow Castro.
The US invaded in what is known as the Bay of Pigs fiasco.

 US did not accept Castro Communist ideology.

2. Puert Rico (1898)

 It became under US control on the 25th of July 1898 after a treaty with Spain. US troops
gradually occupied the chief towns. The US demanded The Constitutional powers of Spanish
judges were ended. A US military Government which lasted Two years was installed.

 The Foraker Act 1902-Civilian government was set up. Us appointed officials were a part of
this Government. Imperial domination and exploitation of Puerto Ricans were imposed. It
limited the size of sugar estates.

 The Jones Act of 1907 made Puerto Rico a territory of USA.

 1917- Limited political reform which allowed Puerto Ricans to vote for senate
representatives, but the US still appointed the Governor of the island.

3. Panama (1903)

 With the expansion of the US navy and the expansion of trade and imperialism the United
States felt the need for a canal through Central America. The initial site of the canal was
from San Juan River Realejo but the best site was the Isthmus of Panama.

 The canal was completed in 1914. The US controlled the Canal and it strengthen their
political influence in the hemisphere.

4. Haiti (1915)

 US invaded and established a civilian regime

 The overthrow of the president Guillame Sam in July 1915, when he was killed by a mob, led
to this invasion. The US wanted to prevent the new president Arias from taking power. Why?
They viewed him as an anti-American nationalist. He refused to bow to the pressure of
President Wilson.

 The US believed that Haiti was politically unstable because presidents rose and fell too
quickly.

 They were under US occupation for 19 years.

 The US had Political, economic and strategic interest in Haiti ( reasons for occupation)

 The US had significant investments in banking, railway and agriculture in Haiti. They lent
money to the country.

 They did not want the country to be influenced by communism. Francois Duvalier dictator
leader of Haiti (1957-1971)- used communist bogey, terrorism to get rid of the US in Haiti.

 Us Withdrew from Haiti in the 1930- a few years before the enactment of the “Good
neighbour policy”

 Us investment increased under “Baby Doc” (Jean Claude Duvalier) administration in the
1970s. Better relations were built with US.

 1985- Anti Duvalier sentiments grew which was the first sign that the regime would come to
an end.

5. Dominican Republic (1916)

 Claimed it independence from Spain in 1821. 1822-1824 it was controlled by Haiti. 1844
declared its independence from Haiti

 US intervention began in 1905 During the Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine

 US feared political instability.

 They had accumulated a large foreign debt with the US, Germany and other European
powers

 US invaded and established a military government in 16 May, 1916 when the Haitian
presidents failed to solve political crisis up until summer of 1916.

 Reason for invasion- US claimed threat the Dominican government had broken a 1907 treaty
by incurring debts and they also said that they wanted to prevent a perceived German threat
during World War I.

 The US finally withdrew in 1921, but left a pro- US Governor (Horacio Vasquez) in power as
President.

6. Grenada (1983)

 The fear of the spread of Cuban communist ideas and the claim the US students’ lives at St.
Georges University were in danger.
  US intervened because the socialist leader Maurice Bishop staged a revolutionary coup.

 Grenada was viewed as a potential security threat.

 US warships arrived in Grenada with 6, 000 troops claiming to protect US citizens.

Consequences of the united states involvement 1898-1985

1. Cuba

 Castro nationalised its oil refineries.

 US cut Cuba’s sugar quota

 The Bay of Pigs incident in 1961

 Cuba declared a socialist state

 US refused to sell Cuba weapons

 US cut off loans

 US banned exports from Cuba except essentials

 Castro nationalised US investments in Cuba

 Diplomatic relations were severed with Cuba

2. Puerto Rico

 Us executed control through legal and governance control, Economic exploitation and the
process of deculturation. This deculturation of Puerto Ricans, historians refer to it as
“Ethnocide”.

3. Panama

 Panama and Colombia loss land

4. Haiti

 Little Friendliness relations developed between Haiti and US

 US had installed a puppet leader in Haiti

 US occupation resulted in decrease of Black political influence in the island. The coloured
elite was re-established.

 White elitism returned in the form of US officials and marines

 Us occupation led to the decrease in size of the Haitian army.

 Haitians opposed US presence.

5. Dominican Republic
  Nationalist resistance escalated in in the period after US occupation. The occupation was
viewed as neo- colonial by Latin America and sections of the US population

 The US gained some success which caused them to withdraw in July 1924. A pro – US
governor was elected, Horacio Vasquez.

6. Grenada

 US invasion. Murder of Maurice Bishop. Claim of lives of 63 Grenadians, 24 civilians killed by

US bombs.

POLICIES OF CASTRO REVOLUTION 1959-1962

 To change the system of government. To replace the dictatorship with an elected

government.

 To end US domination of Cuban economic affairs

 To rid the island of the worst features of tourism (e.g. prostitution and gambling) that the
US assumingly started.

 Nationalization of property. Agrarian Reform- expropriation of land from those who

owned churches, cattle, sugar and tobacco estates. The owners were able to keep a small
percentage and the rest was divided among poor families. By the end of 1960 most of the
land that belonged to US businesses was now controlled by Cuba.

 Social Reform- equality for blacks and greater rights for women. Improvement in
communication, health facilities, medical, and education. Reduction in unemployment.

 Allied with communist states in order to gain foreign loans to help sustain Cuba. They had
trade agreements with the USSR then later with Poland and China

 By 1962 Castro declared Cuba a communist state. The party of the socialist Revolution
(1965) reorganised to Communist Party of Cuba (PCC).

THE UNITED STATES RESPONSE 1959-1962

 Political and economic embargo- US cancelled the purchase of Cuban Sugar at preferential
rates 1960-1961. They stopped providing income for Tourism in Cuba, They placed an
embargo on all trade with Cuba except in food and drugs

 Ideological warfare-

 Military Intervention- the CIA recruited, armed and trained Cubans who fled from Cuba to
invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs ion 17th April, 1961. US were prepared to do anything possible
to stop the UUR from setting up nuclear missiles in Cuba by blockading Cuba and searching
USSR ships.

 International Pressure-

THE IMPACT OF CASTRO’S REVOLUTION ON THE CARIBBEAN 1959-1985

  Spread of Socialism- Eastern Caribbean feared the spread of communism/ socialism. This
was meant with some level of success in the case of Grenada.

 Creation of the US economic, political spheres of influence- US invested in Caribbean

islands and by invested they made sure they influenced these countries so that they could
adopt their ideologies of governing.

 Anti- communistic Campaign-The US kept a Strict embargo trade with Cuba and used
diplomatic and financial pressure to encourage their western allies (Caribbean) to follow
suit.

 The Cold War- (1946/7-1990s)- Castro’s turn to communism brought the Cold War to the
Caribbean.

THE IMPACT OF THE US INVOLVEMENT IN THE ENGLISH SPEAKING CARIBBEAN 1939-1985

 Economic Effects- Britain decline of wealth and power was evident when the Us invested in
local industries e. g. Jamaican and Guyanese Bauxite, small oil companies in Trinidad; trade
with the US increased; US investments led to a flow of money out of the various
countries; the US launched the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), which gave the US
government the power to offer aid and reduce tax and customs levels on goods that entered
the USA from the Caribbean or Central America (encouragement of free enterprise); The US
Peace Corps helped the countries in development projects via funding from the US.

 Political Effects- it led to a decline in the power and wealth of Britain by 1945. US invested in
companies in the English- speaking islands in order to prevent the influence of Cuban
communist economic and political practices. They The US used their investments to highlight
there ideals of democracy and regional co-operation.

 Cultural Effects- The United States Information Agency (USIA)/ United States International
Communication Agency(USCIA) had programmes which gave Caribbean people the
opportunity to learn US ideal, culture and Foreign policy and be informed about business
opportunities, cultural events. Emigration opportunities and educational and scholarship
programs. They acted as US propaganda machines. American culture is spread through the
radio, newspapers (mass media). The media has been successful since the 1960s to transmit
American culture to the region in the area of sports, technology, language dress, music,
films, news food and education. The US Peace Corps spread US influence throughout the
Caribbean region.