History of Europe

How did The US counteracted the German threat to invade Haiti and Santo Domingo?

In 1915, the United States sent a force of more than 1,500 Marines and sailors to Haiti to prevent Germany from taking over the country. The Haitian government had been in chaos for several years, and the United States was worried that Germany would use the opportunity to invade and establish a military base there. The Marines quickly occupied the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince and forced the Haitian president to resign. The United States then set up a military government that would rule Haiti for the next 19 years.

In 1916, the United States sent a similar force to the Dominican Republic, also to prevent a German takeover. The Dominican Republic had been in even worse shape than Haiti, and the United States was worried that Germany would take advantage of the situation and establish a military base there as well. The Marines quickly occupied the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo and forced the Dominican president to resign. The United States then set up a military government that would rule the Dominican Republic for the next eight years.

The US occupations of Haiti and the Dominican Republic were controversial, and they were widely criticized by many Latin Americans. However, the occupations did succeed in preventing Germany from taking over either country. The United States also used the occupations to improve infrastructure and public health in both countries.