Banana Wars: The American invasion of Haiti.

The American invasion of Haiti was the fourth major event of the Banana Wars. It brought in a massive change within the already struggling nation. With it's political and economic system being largely tied to the whims of the occupying Americans. A power structure would be established, that would see the nation through nearly 30 years of dictatorship.

Read the Sources cited:

The Banana WarsA Captivating Guide to the Interventions of the United States in Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean (U.S. Military History)

The Second CenturyU.S.Latin American Relations Since 1889

The Banana WarsUnited States Intervention in the Caribbean, 18981934

The Banana WarsA History of United States Military Intervention in Latin America from the SpanishAmerican War to the Invasion of Panama

*Disclaimer: This video or video description contains affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost for you.

______________________

Support The Channel:

Have a topic you want to suggest? Say so in the comments below. Subscribe if you enjoyed the video as well, would be super appreciated

The United States was worried about German influence over the island nation. Haiti had around 200 Germans within its community, but these Germans had a massive amount of economic and political power. They had married into prominent Haitian families, and built up a good portion of the modern transportation market, as well as the ports of trade. The German empire in turn, had tried to exert some influence over the Caribbean since the 1880's, against the wishes of the United States. Plans had been drawn up by Germany, to actually attack the US at the turn of the 20th century, video on that subject here, but they were shelved shortly after construction. American business interests were also at odds with them, as the vast mineral and material value of Haiti, was well known to many of the world. The Germans, also served as the principal financiers of the nation's revolutions, floating loans at high interest rates to the competing political factions. Because of this, they were regarded as a threat to American financial interests. The US's military leadership believed the Haitian Germans were tied directly to the government in Berlin.

To counter this influence, the US sponsored a New York run group of investors, to buy out the only national bank in Haiti, which would effectively put the nations commerce under American investor control. In December 1914, the U.S. military seized the Haitian government's gold reserve and transferred it to the investors bank, as well as slightly assist Jean Vilbrun Guillaume Sam in becoming president in February the following year. Sam turned his presidency into a dictatorship five months later, and ordered the execution of 167 political rivals. All of which were from prominent families with German connections. Sam was killed by a mob in Port-au-Prince as soon as they learned of the executions.

The United States regarded what had turned into an anti-American revolt against Sam, as a threat to American business interests in the country and sent forces to occupy the nation immediately. Woodrow Wilson ordered 330 U.S. Marines to occupy Port-au-Prince on July the 25th, Wilson also aimed to rewrite the Haitian constitution. It had banned foreign ownership of land, but he wanted to replace it with one that guaranteed American financial control over the markets.