Isolationism And The Mexican Revolution

In his Farewell Address, George Washington advised the nation against foreign affairs. It is plainly obvious that America did not heed Washington’s warning, as the onslaught of international world wars, among other things, forces the United States to interfere. America often plays the part of the “big brother” when it comes to national conflicts. The U.S. is revered by other countries, recognized as a powerful ally and a devastating enemy. Some historians and moral philosophers claim that it is America’s democratic duty to abandon the policy of isolationism and secure the liberty of the U.S. by fighting when necessary. Others believe America violates a fundamental component of national sustainability and ensures its demise as a prosperous country
when it places itself in the center of hostile situations it can otherwise avoid all together.
An example of this American intervention can be observed in the Mexican Revolution.
The Mexican Revolution was an armed struggle that began in 1910 and ended around 1920, which resulted in the formation of a constitutional republic in Mexico. One of the main causes of the Mexican Revolution was the intense disapproval of President Porfirio Diaz’s dictatorship, as he was violating the Mexican Constitution of 1857 by remaining in office over the allotted presidential term. Rebel Rousers and reformists initiated the Mexican Revolution as a means of overthrowing the president. The violence of the revolution created a civil war, forcing thousands of frightened Mexicans to immigrate to the U.S. First, U.S. President Wilson sent a military invasion to occupy and wrest the Port of Veracruz, where the Mexican Army was receiving its supplies. Second, when a raid at Columbus headed by Francisco “Pancho” Villa caused the death of sixteen Americans, President Woodrow Wilson ordered troops into Mexico to capture
Villa.
Seeing as America had economic ties with Mexico and the conflict within Mexico put American lives in danger, as well as drive a decent percentage of the Mexican population to the U.S., it wasn’t terribly wrong for the U.S. to interfere. Mexico’s growing state of disorder was not something it could’ve handled on its own: “to abandon this small and brave nation to its enemy, and to the terror that must follow, would be an unforgivable wrong” (Peace). Many countries might view military occupation of another country in their own as intimidating and/or insulting, it’s a completely appropriate response; however, America’s intention was to defend and bring a sense of security to Mexico, so its actions seem justified.
After Diaz was overthrown, Francisco Madero became the executive leader of Mexico.
His tenure was short-lived, as he was assassinated by Victoriano Huerta- who then ascended to President/dictator of Mexico in 1913. U.S. President Wilson refused to recognize Huerta and attempted to impeach him from office. Huerta’s failure to comply incited Wilson’s acquisition of Veracruz; Wilson’s goal was to guarantee “the legitimate government of [Mexico] will be restored to its rightful place” (January); cutting off Huerta’s supplies at Veracruz proved effective in returning the constitutional ideals to Mexico. President Wilson’s intervention granted Mexico a democracy, which is arguably the most preferable of government
regimes.
The civil war conceived during the Mexican Revolution, continued after Huerta’s abdication between Venustiano Carranza and “Pancho” Villa, but President Wilson did not yet interfere this time. Carranza appeared to be the winner of this civil war, until Villa murdered seventeen U.S. citizens and raided Columbus, Mexico to illustrate Carranza’s insufficient authority in northern Mexico and aggravate the United States. Wilson sent military troops to apprehend Villa, but this invasion angered the Carranza government, causing Wilson to withdraw months later. Exemplified by the many foreign affairs the U.S. has become involved in, America’s efforts to remain neutral are often unsuccessful for “[its] own security depends upon [Americans’] willingness to… uphold the values that [they] stand for” (Transcript), e.g. democracy. President Wilson’s intrusion in the Mexican Revolution allowed for the removal of dictatorship in Mexico and made him a particularly capable president in regard to foreign policy.
To protect liberty and share it with an oppressed nation, America exercised its profound ability to stabilize the social order of Mexico and rid it of the evils of dictatorship. Though involving oneself with someone else’s business is unwarranted and deplorable in many cases, the “big brother” status of the U.S. remains an exception. America should continue to provide assistance to nations that have maintained good relations with the United States, but should do so without overstaying its welcome or concerning itself with matters that weren’t originally the reason for its involvement.