America and Haiti Essay example -- American History

America and Haiti The United States interest in Haiti, as mentioned above, began a huge increase in the first decade of the twentieth century. The extent of U. S. economic penetration was not as great as that of France and Germany, but by 1910 it controlled sixty percent of Haiti’s import industry. Unfortunately, the Haitian banking system did not follow this path and was, at this time, "perilously close to domination by European interests." (Langley, 1982, 70) In an effort to gain more control over Haitian economic affairs, the United States engaged in a battle with France and Germany over the Banque Nationale. Two banks from the U. S. attempted to obtain control of the bank but lost out to a German bank, which proceeded to ally itself with the Banque’s French managers in an effort to acquire domination. But the United States protested the exclusion of American banks so forcefully that the French and Germans folded and agreed to let the two American banks have a fifty percent share in t he Banque Nationale. With a foot in the door, the Americans essentially took control of the Banque’s management. In doing so they gained much influence over the Haitian government executives, who relied on the Banque to cover monthly expenses. This would prove to be a huge asset in terms of fulfilling American interests in Haiti in the future. The administration under William Taft that was in power in the United States at this time saw Haiti experience almost continuous insurrection and political disorders. American warships were constantly present in the region, and by 1911 there were never less than five patrolling the Haitian waters at any given time. Things became so unstable in August that the Naval Command in Haiti was granted the power to ... ...ars: An Inner History of the American Empire, 1900-1934; The University Press of Kentucky (Lexington, 1983). Langley, Lester D. The United States and the Caribbean in the Twentieth Century; The University of Georgia Press (Athens, 1982). Shannon, Magdaline W. Jean Price-Mars, the Haitian Elite and the American Occupation, 1915-1935; St. Martin’s Press, Inc. (New York, NY, 1996). http://www.arlingtoncemetery.com/awcatlin.htm Marine officer who participated in almost all the major US military interventions in the Caribbean, from the Spanish-American War to the occupation of Haiti!! http://www-cgsc.army.mil/csi/pubs/intrvene.htm Great bibliography for sources detailing U.S. inteventionism in the early twentieth century. http://aristotle.schreiner.edu/worldpac/eng/r000010/r009697.htm Book detailing U.S. intervention in Haiti. http://www.medalia.net/Hhistory.html