US+Military+Interventions

During the presidency of Francisco Madero, the US became increasingly uncomfortable with the situation in Mexico because Madero was threatening the status quo that had been consistent under Diaz's rule. The U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Henry Lane Wilson in February of 1912 cautioned Mexico that an intervention was eminent, and that the U.S. had troops stationed along the Mexican border. Wilson continued to be critical of Madero and his revolutionary movement. Meanwhile, Wilson conferred secretly with Diaz and Huerta, and assured them that he was in favor of their counter revolutionary movements. On February 12 Wilson sent an urgent message on behalf of the U.S. criticizing Madero on his military operations in Mexico city, claiming that they were a threat U.S. life and safety. He warned that U.S. marines would land in Mexican ports unless Madero consented to resignation. Madero replied that "he would rather die than allow foreign intervention." However, Madero was quickly overthrown and murdered by General Victoriano Huerta. Huerta was abhorred by the U.S. government due to his method for obtaining power. The U.S. supported Villa, Carranza, and Zapata in their resitance against him, using arms shipments and finacial aid. The most important and famous act of military intervention in the Mexican Revolution was the United States occupation of Veracruz.

US Navy at Veracruz

In 1916 Pancho Villa, a revolutionary general, incorrectly believed that President Carranza had been bought out by the United States and raided Columbus, New Mexico which greatly angered the United States. In response, the United States sent General Pershing to follow Villa's troops back into Mexico. The United States had expected that the tension between Carranza and Villa would equate to Carranza being neutral in the situation. Unfortunately for the United States, Carranza was not neutral. He condemned the foreign invasion and insisted on the immediate departure of all U.S. forces. Then he began to prepare for war arguing that the sovereignty be respected. The only accomplishment of the Pershing fiasco was to reinforce the common belief in Mexico that the United States enjoyed meddling in Mexican affairs.

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