In later years, Diaz, cheated his way into becoming the president of Mexico. The middle class as well as peasants and workers, grew angry at the lack of political democracy. A huge revolt went against Diaz and the rebellions actually ended up defeating Diaz and his troops. Francisco Madero became the president of Mexico in the country’s first “democratic election in 30 years’ (Chronology, Mexican Revolution 1910-1920). The election placed America into a state of paranoia and fear due to the assumption that Madero would not protect the America’s investments. As a result of this panic, Henry Lane Wilson, an U.S. ambassador was sent down into Mexico. As this occurred, Madero’s followers believed that his plan of democracy “did not go far enough in such areas as returning the land to the peasants”(Chronology Mexican Revolution 1910-1920). On the other hand, some supposed that the plan went too far. Either way, many rejected the plan. An alliance thus formed between the U.S. ambassador and the former followers of Madero.
In 1913, the U.S. ambassador Wilson and General Victoriano Huerta helped each other each to gain control of the government. They placed Madero in jail. Huerta’s men later shot Madero while he was in jail. They claimed, “he attempted to escape” (The Mexican Revolution 1910-1920). Not believing a single word, American President Woodrow Wilson refused to recognize Huerta as president. He claimed that Huerta’s regime was “a government of butchers”( Woodrow Wilson 1856-1924). A Civil War began in Mexico as revolutionary armies battled to drive Huerta out. Wilson authorized arms sales to the revolutionaries, while refusing to allow weapon sale to Huerta’s forces. It was obvious to see that America intervened with the dilemmas of Mexico by allowing Henry Lane Wilson to ally with the rebellious group. This thus, began the civil war. If the Wilson did not help start the Civil War, the lives of countless Mexicans would have never been lost.
As the Civil War raged on, President Woodrow Wilson feared that the rebellions would be unable to defeat Huerta’s forces in the war. At first however, America did not take part in the war. Nonetheless something occurred that led Wilson into another intervention with Mexico. Huerta’s soldiers arrested several crewmembers from the USS Dolphin for going ashore for supplies at the Mexican port of Tampico. Although the soldiers were released unharmed, Wilson demanded an apology and that Mexico would “hoist the American flag in a prominent position and salute it with twenty-one-guns” (Woodrow Wilson 1856-1924). Huerta apologized but would not perform the ceremony. Wilson then decided to go to Congress and ask for the declaration of war. However, before Congress could act, Wilson learned that a “German ship full of arms, was heading for Huerta’s troops in Veracruz” (Thomas Woodrow Wilson 1913-1921). He ordered U.S. Navy to land marines at Veracruz, and take over the customhouse so the trade could never happen. By the time the mission was accomplished, Congress had agreed for war. The lack of supplies turned the tides of the war and Huerta fled to Spain. With the act of taking over the customhouse, America once again changed the future of Mexico. A new president of Mexico must now emerge and that person would be Venstiano Carranza, a rebell that was fighting against Huerta.
In 1915 Carranza assumed the presidency and the American forces withdrew from Veracruz as the new president of Mexico promised America that he would protect their investment. However, a powerful Mexican, Pancho Villa disliked the idea that Carranza was president because he believed that it was his duty to become president. At first he hoped that America would go against Carranza. But this did not occur and he decided to rebel against America with another leader Emilano Zapta. They decided, “…not to fire a bullet more against Mexicans our brothers and to prepare and organize to attack the Americans in their own dens” (Chronology, Mexican Revolution 1910-1920). Villa along with 500 troops crossed into Columbus, New Mexico in March 1916. Although there were only 17 causalities for the Americans, it still angered President Wilson extremely. Without Carranza’s approval, Wilson sent military expedition into Mexico. General John J. Pershing led the troops and the “…deeper they went into Mexico, the more Mexicans resented the Americans” (Thomas Woodrow Wilson 1913-1921).
By 1916, nearly 150,00 guardsmen were stationed along the Mexican border. However, the idea of war with Mexico was highly unpopular in the U.S and with the pressure of World War I, Wilson backed his troops down in January 1917. In return however, Wilson asked Carranza “to adopt a measure that would allow the United States to intervene in Mexico to protect U.S. investment.” Carranza refused. But the U.S. luck changed when forces loyal to Alvaro Obregon, another power hungry Mexican that thought he should be president, executed Carrazna. Obregon then created a new constitution that protected the U.S. investment. The fact that America went into Mexico without asking Mexico’s permission made this intervention a controversial issue.
America’s intervention in the country of Mexico changed the country’s fate dramatically. For one thing, Madero, a democratically elected president that wanted to improve the life of Mexicans, was arrested because the U.S. supported the rebels. This incident thus connects the U.S. to Huerta meaning that, for the gain of either money or power, the U.S. would go as far as to kill someone that has been chosen by the Mexicans. Not only does this destroy the whole concept of democracy but also this specific incident began an unnecessary civil war. Madero, if he was never arrested and killed, contained the potential to improve the life of a Mexican. He believed in democracy and he wanted to help the many Mexicans that were in poverty. But the American interference changed all this and therefore, it is clear to say that the interventions were uncalled for.