US Influence in the Caribbean

The United States Influence in the Caribbean
The Caribbean had been under European domination for three centuries: 15th
to 18th. The region had been a centre of colonization, trade and a base for
expansion into North, Central and South America. In addition, it was the
arena for almost continuous rivalry and conflict among European nations as
they competed with each other for naval and territorial supremacy.
By the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, Britain had emerged over
France, Spain and the Netherlands (Dutch) as the most viable, imperial and
naval power in the West Indies. However, Britain’s supremacy was short
lived when it was effectively challenged by the USA, a new nation which had
emerged on the world scene when the thirteen British North American
colonies finally won their independence from Britain.
After American independence, the U.S. was prohibited from trading with the
British West Indies by the Navigation Acts. After independence, the viable
North American and British West Indian trade of the 17th and 18th centuries
was severely reduced. American trading activities in the Caribbean were
largely shifted from the British to the French colonies, primarily, St.
Domingue. American commercial interests in the Caribbean countries
continued and increased throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
The strength of the United States as a world power was first demonstrated in
the western hemisphere in 1898 during the Spanish-American war. In the
early years of the 20th century, American policy was described as a ‘’Big
Stick’’ policy because of the aggressive nature of its attitude towards the
developing Caribbean republics. The construction of the Panama Canal
during this period and the determination of the American Government to
make the Caribbean an ‘’American Lake’’ were largely responsible for this
attitude.
From about 1912 to the early 1930s, the U.S. policy in the Caribbean has
been described as Dollar Diplomacy. During this period, American dollars
were pumped into republics that were plagued with political and economic
unrest in an effort to bring about peace and stability and exclude any other
foreign power from the Canal Zone.
By 1933, the American image in the western hemisphere had been badly
tarnished. In an effort to remedy this, the Good Neighbour Policy was
adopted. During this period, the American government attempted to act in
accordance with the principles of the ‘’Good Neighbour’’ policy. Acts of
aggression were severely reduced.

Factors that influenced United States in the Caribbean up to 1962

1) National defence and security were primary factors that influenced
the United States’ interest in the Caribbean. The U.S. wanted to create
a situation that would protect them from enemy attack and
help to retain supremacy over the area. Hence, the U.S. constructed
military bases and centres and maintained military training facilities in
the Caribbean. In addition, the U.S. put measures in place to justify her
intervention, if and when it became necessary for example, the Platt
Amendment and the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.

2) The U.S. was considered the foremost champion of democracy
especially since the First World War hence, President Woodrow Wilson
from 1913, was concerned with promoting constitutionally elected
governments. He believed that it was the moral responsibility of the
U.S. to promote democratic government in territories which lay within
its sphere of interest.

3) Around the beginning of the 20th century, Britain became less capable
of maintaining its world-wide control of the seas, and so gave up
strategic control over the Caribbean to the United States.

4) The independent territories were of great importance to the U.S.
because members of the United Nations, their votes in support of the
U.S. were especially useful in ‘’Cold War’’ (ideological conflict between
the U.S. and the Soviet Union) politics.

5) The United States was concerned about the territorial ambitions of France
and Germany in areas of trade and investment. The reason for this war
was that the U.S. felt its own potential for expansion in the region was
threatened.

6) The U.S. had investments in the Caribbean which were of economic
importance in Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, in areas such as
tobacco, sugar, mining industries, banking, and railways. These vital
interests needed to be protected and required its intervention when
considered necessary.

7) The U.S. wanted to construct a canal across Central America which
became known as the Panama Canal. This canal would link the Pacific
and Atlantic fleets. Hence, it was important that these territories
maintain political stability and economic progress to prevent foreign
interference which threaten American control.

8) The U.S. wanted to spread some of the benefits of their ‘’superior’’
civilization to their southern neighbours, e.g. building of schools and
hospitals, eradicating diseases, improving agricultural methods and
techniques, improving communication and other public works, and
providing for more efficient and honest administration.