Woodrow Wilson’s Moral DiplomacyTime Period: 1910-1924President: Woodrow Wilson

by: Kathleen David and Esther Chia

ExplanationDuring the Mexican Revolution, Mexico had hopes of overthrowing General Porfirio Diaz by using means of war and violent revolt. In the cartoon, Mexico is represented through a man running on a treadmill which suggests that if Mexico continued to chase after progress with violence (depicted as a gun) and with chaos (the torch), they would be unable to move forward and obtain progress. Thus, Mexico’s inability will make room for America’s involvement in their affairs. Since Mexico wanted to achieve democracy, America took this opportunity to step in and advocate moral diplomacy, which is the system where America gives support to countries with similar moral beliefs as them.

Causes and EffectsCAUSES

● motives included: o greatly expand and control the western hemisphere by participating in foreign politics for

the benefit of the USo develop an interdependent relationship with Latin America by supporting their countries

and getting resources and goods in compensationo promote American economic growth and eliminate imperialismo numerous dictators such as Diaz, Madero, and Huerta further enhanced the US support

of moral diplomacy and democracy● Mexican Revolution draws US interest to make Mexico beneficial to them through support

Regions involved: Democratic Latin American countries, specifically Mexico; United States

Causes and EffectsEFFECTS:

● numerous dictators and Mexico’s frustration with them leads to American involvement in the Mexican revolution

● US conspires with Mexican Army to overthrow Madero because he did not support US interests● Woodrow Wilson allows for a revolt lead by Carranza and Pancho Villa● Tampico Incident: Mexico captures a US troop for being in a war zone without a permit● US seizes the port of Vera Cruz because Mexico wanted the US to salute their flag and

recognize Huerta’s diplomatic government as a legitimate● Resentment towards Mexico if formed

o the US wanted their citizens out and due to this Mexico supported the ideaTreaties: Treaty of Ciudad Juárez (Porfiro Diaz and Francisco Madero) and Guadalupe Hidalgo (ended war)

Values and LimitationsVALUES

● This political cartoon displays Mexico’s efforts in overthrowing their corrupt government

○ significance of this source: shows political bias against mexico through how it is depicted as less dominant. The United States being viewed in a positive light encouraged imperialistic behavior. Based upon this, it suggests that American society was ethnocentric and subjected less powerful people to believe in their principles through their form of cultural imperialism that brought values such as democracy and equal rights. Due to this, their mental goal was to eradicate the culture of the non-powerful under the belief that their nation was superior.

LIMITATIONS● The cartoon was made by an American artist so it is

more biased to a US perspectiveo By depicting Mexico as completely hopeless

of obtaining progress is an overstatement because the cartoon shows that America assumes that no matter what they did or what methods they used, Mexico would fail to achieve their goals. It attempts to justify the US’s actions of involving themselves with Mexico because it depicts Mexico as a country who wanted and needed the help of overthrowing diplomats. However, the cartoon fails to show how US involvement and moral diplomacy also failed to create change in Latin America.

To what extent...To what extent was US territorial expansion a proper and legitimate policy for the United States to follow at the turn of the nineteenth century?

● Based on the outcome of the Mexican Revolution, US territorial expansion, to a large extent, was not a proper means for gaining power because the tactics used to obtain Mexico ultimately failed in the end. The US attempted to expand into the western hemisphere by overtaking Latin American countries. However, America had a selfish intent while attempting to spread into different countries; they planned to support Latin American countries but solely for the purpose of benefitting from the resources and goods that they would provide in return as a sort of reward. Specifically in Mexico, it seems as if America tried too hard to intervene with Mexico’s foreign affairs regarding democracy against diplomatic rulers. In the beginning of the revolution, Mexico did not ask for America’s help in their wars. America, on the other hand, believed it was their “moral obligation” to assist Mexico, when their true motivation was to gain trust and support of Mexico so that America could gain more economic success. Overall, this moral diplomacy did not work in order to gain territorial expansion because the Mexicans began to resent the US for their intervention and the US was insulted by Mexico’s growing hostility. Thus, exemplifying that US territorial expansion was not a proper policy to follow.