Question

In what ways did the U.S. intervene in Latin American countries (particularly Nicaragua and Chile?)

Answer 1

Banana Wars were a series of interventions by the United States in Central American countries and the Caribbean.

At the end of the 19th century, a new phase of colonialism called imperialism was intensifying. During this period, industrialized countries vied for zones of influence, sources of raw materials and consumer markets among the least developed countries in the world. The United States and some European countries participated in a real race for these territories in Africa and Asia.

Latin America received a special interest from the United States. As part of a policy of supposed protection of the continent, the Americans invaded several countries and conquered practically the whole of America as zones of influence.

The Banana Wars were precisely the interventions of the Americans as an integral part of this process of imperialist expansion. The term “Banana War” was coined to highlight the commercial interest of the United States in Central America and the Caribbean, there was a more significant financial participation by the United Fruit Company, which invested in the production of several Caribbean products, among which was bananas, tobacco and sugar cane, for example. The initial impetus was the economic issue, but it did not take long to reveal the United States' political interest in the region as well. The expansion of this interest allowed the maintenance of a sphere of influence and the control of the Panama Canal, a point of great relevance for global trade and naval power.

The United States' intervention in Nicaragua was marked by many political conflicts. The Americans supported the rebellion forces against the then Nicaraguan president José Santos Zelaya because of the existing interest in the potential that the region offered through the Nicaragua Canal. Zelaya also regulated the access of foreigners to the country's natural resources, which greatly displeased the United States in the experienced context, generating interventions and support for the overthrow of the ruler.

American action on the Chilean economy had a clear objective: to weaken Allende's government to prevent him from carrying out his reforms. Thus, the United States imposed economic sanctions on Chile and forced the fall in the price of copper, the main Chilean export product, on the international market. In addition, opposition groups began to receive support from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), a US government agency.

American action on the Chilean economy, coupled with the unrest of opposition groups, has led to a total destabilization of the economy. Thus, the country's Gross Domestic Product fell, inflation in the country shot up to more than 300% and the country faced a serious crisis of shortage of goods.