Question

In President Woodrow Wilson's moral diplomacy faced a serious challenge

Answer 1

Woodrow Wilson assumed the post of US President in 1912 with little experience in foreign affairs. He firmly resolved to build his foreign policy on moral principles, on selfish materialism, as his predecessors did. Moral diplomacy is a system in which support is given only to countries with the same moral principles. At the same time, this system should harm states whose principles are incompatible with moral principles, and such states are seen as enemies of America. Wilson hoped to increase the number of democratic countries, especially in Latin America. This attitude of Wilson on mild diplomacy and America's role in world politics comes from American exceptionalism, so he often intervened in the affairs of Mexico, Haiti, Cuba, Panama, the Dominican Republic. Because of this, he had international problems, especially in Mexico. This Latin American country has been known for its revolutions since 1910. The Americans, with their mining and other interests, demanded immediate intervention. When Victoriano Huerta assumed power in Mexico in 1913, Wilson refused to recognize him, although many world powers did so. Other countries supported Huerta because he was open to foreign investment. All this did not fit into Wilson's moral policy. In April 1914, following the capture of several American sailors by Huerta, Wilson used this to justify an order to the American Navy to take over the port city of Veracruz.