Woodrow Wilson's Missionary Diplomacy
Just like we talked about in the class, Woodrow Wilson was taking a new diplomatic approach compared to what the Government used to do. Wilson was a Christian man and that was a part of the way he acted as a president. Wilson began his presidency with little knowledge or interest in foreign affairs. He said "It would be the irony of fate if my administration had to deal chiefly with foreign affairs," this shows how during his time as president he wanted to focus mostly on domestic issues. But as he would find out one cannot be president without having to deal with foreign issues.
That’s where my topic comes in. Wilsons Missionary Diplomacy was basically made to discredit governments of countries in the western hemisphere that practiced things that were in disagreement, and that the US thought was morally wrong. This was an expansion of President James Monroe, Monroe Doctrine. Wilson wanted to give other countries the gift of democracy. Wilson pressured governments in Latin America into becoming a Democratic country. People said that the US was assuming more of a policing role and almost a parental role in the western Hemisphere. Looking back at Wilson’s Missionary Diplomacy, it is considered a disaster.
One of the most famous cases where Wilson uses Missionary Diplomacy was in Mexico. Juan O’ Gorman was a leader in Mexico who was made leader by his people than murder shortly after by Victoriano Huerta. Huerta then became leader and installed his dictatorship. The US requested he step down and he refused. The US looked for a reason to get involved militarily and finally got one when a couple US sailors were arrested. Mexico apologized and released them quickly, but this was the excuse Wilson was looking for. He sent troops in killing 200 Mexicans and 18 Americans. He then put Poncha Villa in power. Poncha Villa turned out to be just as or even more crazy than Huerta.
President Wilson’s Missionary Diplomacy." Eclecticspot. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2013.
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Comments
Great summary but be sure to include personal thoughts and two pictures!