Critical Thinking 18-4 #4

In my opinion, it was a good idea to become involved in the affairs of countries such as Nicaragua, Mexico, and Colombia. In most cases, the United States' involvement seemed to be in the best interest of these Latin American countries. Also, by helping these countries, the United States gained power in the form of recognition as an international police nation. This was an effect of the Roosevelt Corollary, which said that America had the right to use force to protect its interests in the Latin America. Another effect of Roosevelt's policy was the fact that European countries would stay out of western affairs, which decreased the chances of competition for power in Latin America. To help justify this, the U.S. used dollar diplomacy, the policy of using the government to guarantee loans by Americans to foreign countries. In addition to dollar diplomacy, President Wilson added a moral aspect to the Monroe doctrine, saying that it was the responsibility of the United States to police the area around it. In the case of the Mexican Revolution, Latin American countries, including Argentina, Chile, and Brazil, seemed to agree with Wilson. While some may see our country's involvement in Latin American affairs as unnecessary or unfair, there is no doubt that it was an intelligent move in the United States' interests, helping the country gain more power and influence in the western hemisphere.