Weegy: In the years leading up to the First World War, the United States and Mexican governments competed for political influence in Central America. As a result, the U.S. [ [ [ Government intervened more directly in Nicaraguan affairs in two separate, but related, incidents in 1911 and 1912, with the objective of ensuring the rule of a government friendly to U.S. political and commercial interests and preserving political stability in Central America. Although officials within the administration of President William H. Taft saw themselves as intervening to ensure good government, many Nicaraguans became increasingly alarmed at what seemed to be a foreign takeover of their political, banking, and railroad systems.
U.S. Secretary of State Philander Knox had become increasingly concerned about the activities of Nicaraguan President Jos? Zelaya. Zelaya had come to power in a military coup in 1893. Shortly afterwards, Zelaya annexed the British colony of the Mosquito Coast. Zelaya embarked on a campaign of internal improvement and began to court foreign investment, not only from the United States but from other nations as well. Knox was particularly concerned about Zelaya?s negotiations with the Japanese government for the construction of a transoceanic canal. In 1909, Nicaraguan involvement in the affairs of El Salvador and Costa Rica spurred Knox to seek a way to isolate Zelaya and possibly remove him from power. In the fall of 1909, a revolt broke out against Zelaya in Nicaragua, and Knox seized it as a chance to oust Zelaya.
During his rule, Zelaya had acquired a number of enemies, including disaffected fellow members of his Liberal party, his Conservative opposition, U.S. Government leaders such as Knox, and the Guatemalan government, which provided covert support for some of the early stages of the revolt against Zelaya. Knox initially intended to remain neutral, but kept several navy ships stationed off Nicaragua?s Caribbean coast. However, Thomas P. ...
(More) 