Veracruz,+Mexico,+1914

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Veracruz, Mexico - April-November 1914 Ashley M. Brian M.

a Map that Shows Battle Strategy || || ||
 * [[image:buchholtzsidoramericanstudies/mexicorap.gif width="420" height="315" caption="cities of Veracruz and Tampico, Mexio"]] || Insert
 * US vs. Mexico

Tasks I: Explain the nature and scope of the conflict.-- Due Friday, November 18th
 * When Victoriano Huerta became the New President of Mexico, he tried to revolutionize the Mexican government; he tried to abolish an old contract with the US allowing them to use the oil in the ports of Tampico and Veracruz. After Mexican soldiers arrested sailors from the USS //Dolphin// for using the ports, Rear Admiral Henry T. Mayo, the commander of the local US Navy Squadron, demanded an apology. "....a greater task of contrition, dmanding a 21-gun salute to the U.S. flag within 24 hours" (Beezley; Tampico...) is what he requested. When Mexico refused, Germany attempted Mexican support with loaded arms and ammunition. This lead to the Invasion of Veracruz by the US military in order to prevent the delivery. President Wilson disfavored Victoriano Huerta and knew that his presidency would discredit the US; "...the Mexican president could not maintain order and protect U.S. private and public intrests..." (Beezley; U.S. Landing...) We continued to personally fight against Huerta and his changes to the Mexican government, and when Venustiano Carranza became the new president of Mexico, the US troops pulled out (November 1914).**


 * Beezley, Wiliam H. "Tampico Incident: Mexican Revolution." //World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society.// ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011.**


 * Beezley, William H. "U.S. Landing at Veracruz: Mexican Revolution." //World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society.// ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011.**


 * "Veracruz, Occupation Of," Latin American History and Culture. Ed. Barbara A Tenenbaum. Vol. 5. New York, 1996. 402-403. Print.'**


 * •When** did the conflict begin and end?
 * •Who** were the belligerents?
 * •What** was the problem or issue?
 * •Why** was military action necessary?
 * •Why** was the United States’ interested in the conflict?
 * •How** was the problem resolved?

Draw your information from a minimum of **two** LC e-books and databases. Organize your response in an extended power paragraph. In an appositive phrase, establish the credibility of each source the first time you reference it. Internally cite sources and place the works cited at below the last paragraph for Task I.

Task II: Analyze the U.S.’s involvement in the conflict.- Due Tuesday, November 22nd

The U.S. occupation of Veracruz fit into the punitive and profiteering categories of small wars. According to Max Boot, the author of //The Savage Wars of Peace//, a punitive small war is waged to "punish attacks on American citizens or property" and profiteering wars are "to grab trade" (Boot xvi). President Wilson demanded an apology to what he considered a "stain upon American honor" (Boot 150), the imprisonment of U.S. sailors. The leader of the Mexicans during the dispute was President/General Victoriano Huerta; Huerta's suboordinate in Veracruz was General Gustavo Mass (Beezely; Tampico). The Roosevelt Corollary carried the core ideas of the Monroe Doctrine, but the announcement "launched a period of "big stick" diplomacy" (US Pres. Doctrines). Woodrow Wilson was acting by the Doctrine; he had no good reason to demand that the mexicans apologize, the American soldiers were in restricted areas where Huerta had forbidden the Americans to be. Wilson just showed off the might of the United States Navy and the Marines.

**"Presidential Doctrines" Handout**
 * Beezley, Wiliam H. "Tampico Incident: Mexican Revolution." //World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society.// ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011.**
 * Boot, Max. "The Savage Wars of Peace" Need to add the rest **

•In which one of Max Boot's categories, does this small war fit--punitive, protective, pacification, or profiteering? Justify the reasons that you selected one category over another. •Who were the most important decision-makers or leaders for belligerents and justify your choices with expert opinion? How did these leaders influence the progress and outcome of the war? •Who was the U.S. president and what were his reasons for involving the military in this conflict? •Was there precedent for the U.S. to participate in small wars of this nature? •Which presidential doctrine best fits the aim or goals of this small war?

Draw your information from a minimum of **three** LC e-books and databases--at least one primary source and one expert opinion. Organize your response in one or two extended power paragraphs. In an appositive phrase, establish the credibility of the source the first time you reference it. Internally cite sources and place the works cited at below the last paragraph for Task II.

TASK III: How did United States' Public view this conflict? Due Tuesday, Noevmber 29th Operation Veracruz of 1914 was not viewed positively by US citizens. The original conflict between President Wilson and President Huerta began because Huerta was trying to claim the oil port of Tampico, Mexico, even when a previous contract allowed the purchase of it by the US. At this point in time, oil was not as big of a concern to US citizens, and they found Wilson's requests of Mexico to be unnecessary and rude because Mexico had always been our friend in the past-- many Americans even lived in some cities. According to The Washington Post, April 30, 1914, many Americans have lived in Mexico for years and are highly thought of by the Mexican population. Their opinion of the small war affected the end of the battle because once the US lost interest, they just decided to pull out because it became as pointless as it appeared in the beginning-- there was no real finishing outcome or improvement. According to ABC-CLIO, Veracruz resulted in the US Navy never making good on its ultimatum in Tampico.

The Tampico incident was viewed very differently, and there were many goals, even within the US. President Wilson's goal was to change the government in Mexico. According to Max Boot, "Wilson made it the object of American policy to overthrow the dictator and extend self-government to the Mexican people." He had always hated the new President (Huerta) because of his ways of modernization. Rear Admiral Henry T. Mayo, the commander of the local US Navy squadron, just wanted to invade Mexico. Max Boot also explains that he was the one who originally wanted the 21-gun salute, and this persuaded Wilson to send ships to Tampico when Huerta refused. Between the two of them, the entire oil conflict was handled poorly, and led to the battle of Veracruz.

US citizens began to dislike the Navy once Rear Admiral Henry T. Mayo bombarded Tampico; Max Boot declared that he was an "obdurate old cuss."

The US eventually pulled out in November 1914

But this awas not good enough for Rear Admiral Henry T. Mayo, the obdurate old cuss who commanded the local US navy squadron. Lacking a direct radio or telegraph liknk with Washington, he took initiative, and in the navy's nineteenth-century tradition (think of David porter in Puerto rico), demanded that the Hueristas fire a 21-gun slute to the Stars and Stripes in order to cleanse this stain upon American honor.

Beezley, William H. "Tampico Incident: Mexican Revolution." //World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society.// ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. Boot, Max. "Veracruz." //The Savage Wars of Peace.// New York: Basic Books, 2003. 148-155. Print. //The Washington Post (1877-1922);// Apr 23, 1914; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The Washington Post (1877-1994) pg. 2 //The Washington Post (1877-1922),// Apr 30, 1914; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The Washington Post (1877-1994) pg.2

•Describe at least two non-governmental perspectives on this conflict and identify which one was dominant. •Explain why the conflict was controversial among Americans? •Evaluate the importance of the publics' opinion on the duration and outcome of this small war.

Draw your information from a minimum of **three** LC e-books and databases--at least **one** primary source and **one** expert opinion. Organize your response in one or two extended power paragraphs. In an appositive phrase, establish the credibility of the source the first time you reference it. Internally cite sources and place the works cited at below the last paragraph for Task III.

Task IV: Did the U.S. achieve its goals? -- Due Friday, December 2nd

The actual combat in Veracruz between the United States and the Mexicans lasted for only about three days. According to Max Boot, the author of //The Savage Wars of Peace//, by midday on Wednesday, April 22, 1914, “The sailors and marines had complete control of Veracruz” (Boot 152). According to William H. Beezley, a professor of history at the University of Arizona, “ During the three days of fighting, the Americans lost 19 killed and 47 wounded. More than 400 Mexican civilians died and 1,000 soldiers were driven from the city” (Beezley U.S. Landing…). The Navy Department decided to award naval and marine men with the Medal of Honor, and 55 were given out. The two-day battle was cause for celebration for the Naval Brass and plans to advance on Mexico City were drawn up. President Wilson had had enough bloodshed, “but he also did not want to relinquish the port, at least while Huerta was still in power,” and decided to start the occupation instead (Boot 153). General Frederick Funston was appointed to command the U.S. forces and he cracked down on police corruption and sanitized the water supply. His help to the people was short lived as the troops pulled out in late November. When it was all said and done, the occupation hadn’t accomplished much. The Tampico incident was never resolved and Admiral Mayo never got his 21-gun salute. Anti-American rioting sprang up all across Latin America, as the perception of American injustice spread. Some Americans also criticized the operation, calling it a “screaming farce” (Boot 155). Despite the resentment of critics, the denial of vital commerce through the port of Veracruz cut off revenue to the //Huerista// regime and Huerta stepped down as President in mid-July. With Huerta gone, Woodrow Wilson had achieved his long-term goal in Mexico, and to the Wilson administration at least, the occupation of Veracruz was a success.

Boot, Max. "Veracruz." //The Savage Wars of Peace.// New York: Basic Books, 2003. 148-155. Print. // The Washington Post (1877-1922); // Apr 23, 1914; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The Washington Post (1877-1994) pg. 2 // The Washington Post (1877-1922), // Apr 30, 1914; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The Washington Post (1877-1994) pg.2
 * Beezley, William H. "U.S. Landing at Veracruz: Mexican Revolution." **// World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society. //** ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. **
 * "Veracruz, Occupation Of," Latin American History and Culture. Ed. Barbara A Tenenbaum. Vol. 5. New York, 1996. 402-403. Print.' **

•How did the conflict end and how was success measured? •How did the outcome affect the U.S. standing with the American public, its allies, belligerents, and enemies? •Were the U.S. decision makers and military leaders praised or vilified?

Draw your information from a minimum of **three** LC e-books and databases--at least **one** primary source and **two** expert opinions. Organize your response in one or two extended power paragraphs. In an appositive phrase, establish the credibility of the source the first time you reference it. Internally cite sources and place the works cited at below the last paragraph for Task III.

** Rubric for Small War Wiki: ** •Answers to project questions are accurate and complete. •Information and expert opinion are selected from the **required** LC resources and are cited accurately with the credibility precisely stated. ·Maps, banners and photos are caption and cited. •Project questions are answered fully in extended power paragraphs.spelling •Writing is edited for spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors.
 * Works cited follow each task