American Interests In Mexico In The Early 1900's

From the 1870’s to the early 1900’s, Americans invested heavily into Mexican infrastructure, to include, oil fields, mines, plantations, and railroads. Around the early 1900’s, Mexican dictator Porfirio Diaz started nationalizing these Mexican resources due to the growing fear of American interests in Mexico. Angered American investors started placing their support in Francisco Madero, a pro-constitutional political opponent of Porfirio Diaz, which eventually forced Porfirio Diaz to resign in 1911. As the new claimed president of Mexico, Francisco Madero found it difficult to maintain control of the country due to a growing opposition. In 1913, General Victoriano Huerta murdered Francisco Madero and claimed control of Mexico igniting a revolution.

The United States, under President Woodrow Wilson, placed itself in the middle of the revolution to ensure the security of American interests in Mexico. On April 21, 1914, American forces attacked an occupied the port of Veracruz
U-boat attacks in the spring of 1917

Even though Germany promised not to attack civilian vessels in September 1915, on February 1, 1917, Germany continued their submarine attacks on all vessels, including American vessels. Shortly after, the United States cut off all political relations with Germany. On March 18, 1917, without warning, German U-Boats attacked and destroyed three American vessels.

Germany’s attack on the Lusitania in 1915, the Zimmerman telegram, and Germany’s attack on three American vessels in 1917 left Americans with a distrust and resentment for Germany and probably all the Central Powers. Even though President Wilson ran on a campaign of anti-war and congress did not unanimously agree with going to war, the United States had no choice but to enter World War I. In response to all these events, on April 2nd, President Wilson asked congress to declare war on Germany.

4. Describe the experiences of the following in the military during World War I:
a. African