Review of "Inevitable Revolutions: The United States in Central America," by Walter LaFeber

 Review of

Inevitable Revolutions: The United States in Central America, by Walter LaFeber, ISBN 0393302121

Five out of five stars

Great power domination of small nations

 The first true attempt by the United States to exert power over Central America was the statement that became known as the Monroe Doctrine. It was first stated in 1823 by President James Monroe and was written by then Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. It was shortly after most of the nations in Central and South America had gained independence from their European rulers and stated that any attempt by any European nation to take control of a nation in the Western Hemisphere would be considered a threat to U. S. security.

 For the next several decades, the United States was busy expanding westward and except for the war with Mexico that led to vast territorial acquisitions, the United States generally stayed out of the affairs of the rest of the Western Hemisphere. However, that changed in 1898 when the United States easily defeated Spain and took control of the Philippines, Cuba and Puerto Rico.

 This was followed in 1901 when the United States created the new country of Panama from part of Columbia so that a treaty for the building of the Panama Canal between the new country and the United States could be signed. The canal was completed in 1914 and with the Canal Zone under U. S. control, U. S. power was now paramount in that area of the world.

 Since that time the United States has often invaded and taken effective control of several nations in Central America. At other times an invasion was not necessary as local strongmen and dictators were placed in charge with U. S. backing. The history of these actions is a sordid one with hundreds of thousands of people in Central America having been killed by American proxy rulers.

 The author sets out all the nasty details of the American dominance of this area of the world. In all cases it is the economic interests of the American bankers, fruit companies and mining companies that drove the political control. All sides, including the American political class were willing to accept tyrants in charge of the Central American countries if they didn’t get too greedy, and they did little to upset the availability of extremely cheap labor.

 The history of the United States in Central America is a very sordid and brutal one. While the American political class often used very idealistic statements to justify their actions, they were always hollow to the vast majority of Central Americans. Fundamentally, it was always the large and powerful country enacting its economic and political will against the smaller neighbors to the south. This book should be required reading of anyone that thinks they know the history of American involvement in Central America.

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