3c.+The+effects+of+the+United+States+rule+on+the+Caribbean

__**Economic factors**__

> In Cuba, public buildings were repaired a school system was properly developed. Tax collection was improved and railways was requested.


 * In the Dominican Republic road building started, health centers and clinics were built and water systems were developed.


 * In Puerto Rico, in the 1940s, Operation Bootstrap was a large programme to developed to large programmed to develop industries.


 * A Caribbean Commission was created during World War 2 aided the building of roads and improved food production in the Caribbean.


 * The United States government invested a lot of money into the sugar industry. Large plantations were developed under American control.


 * Other areas where money was invested were tobacco and banana cultivation, mining and railways construction. Hotels were constructed by American investors.

__**Political factors**__

> Military occupation of Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic resulted in stable democracy for some time afterwards. However, democracy and stable government did not last long. There is still unrest to this day.


 * Policies were put in place to put the Caribbean a main priority of the Americans. The following are some of these policies; The Monroe Doctrine, The Roosevelt Corollary, The good neighbour policy and the Alliance for progress.


 * The presence of the US has helped promote the spread of democracy in the Caribbean especially by opposing the laws set by rulers who took power by illegal means. In other words, the Us Presence prevented the creation of authoritarian and militaristic leaders and groups. In the Dominican Republic for instance, all senior officials were removed and replaced by US military officers.


 * By the 1980's, the US opposition to communism and its demonstrated willingness to use force kept the USSR from getting control of the Caribbean

__**Social factors**__

> A Virgin Island Company was developed in the Virgin Islands to help ease unemployment there.


 * Volunteers from the US Peace Corps were sent to the Caribbean to work as teachers in some countries.


 * Agricultural expansion created many jobs within the Caribbean to the extend that labourers migrated from Puerto Rico to work in some West Indian islands.


 * West Indians from the Lesser Antilles also left their countries to migrate to the United States. This resulted in the 'brain drain' which is a condition that occurs when skilled educated persons have to work in another country leaving their own country with a shortage of skilled people.


 * Americans settled in Trinidad and built roads, ports, runways and settlements during World War 2 when the island was used as a base.

__**Cultural factors**__

Many of the Caribbean workers on the Panama Canal brought back aspects of American culture to their islands. These included modes of dress and speech that tried to affect the American accent. The developing tourism industry also ensured that there were many opportunities for interaction with American culture by Caribbean nationals.

Between the 1930s and 1940s, there was a wave of migration into the United State. People returning from that country brought with them cultural influences of speech, dress, music and even food. The establishment of military bases and the expansion of the oil industry in Trinidad also saw more American influence as Americans began to live and exist alongside their Caribbean neighbours.

The era of the 1960s and the 1970s saw mixed reactions to the American impact on the Caribbean. The increased economic activity made people reluctant to criticize the shortcomings. Fortunately, the fears that American culture would dominate the region and make Caribbean traditions extinct did not materialize. However, American culture with its various methods of dissemination did make deep inroads the Caribbean psyche.

__ **The Nature and consequences of the Americans involvement in the Britsh Caribbean between 1939 and 1985** __

The United States pursued a good neighbour policy with nations in the region. The Roosevelt government recognized that the American image abroad, but especially in the Caribbean and the rest of the Americas, was tarnished. The years of the big stick policy and that of dollar diplomacy fast disappeared.

By 1985, The Americans had been involved in helping several countries in the region, economically. Most Caribbean countries were democratic except for Cuba which was Communist.

In 1983, Grenada was invaded by American led forces as the legitimately elected government had been thrown out. There was widespread criticism of the role that the Americans played although they were invited in to fight against rebellious non democratic governments.

__**Positive and negative effects of the US presence in Trinidad**__

__**Positive effects**__

> Local farming got a boost as additional food had to be grown for the soldiers


 * Port facilities were improved to bring in military equipment


 * Roads linking Chaguaramas, Maracas, Carlsen Field and Wallerfield were constructed which opened up more areas for settlement.

__**Negative effects**__


 * Hundreds of land owners were involuntarily removed from their land in Chaguaramas and other areas.It was such a serious issue that in 1960, the Prime Minister Eric Williams led a protest march in 1960 for the USA to return the land that they occupied in Trinidad to Trinidad and Tobago.


 * For many years locals were unable to visit beaches in Trinidad as these areas were used as US bases.


 * During the periods of the American presence, brothels were built which employed local prostitutes to cater to the needs of the American soldiers.

__**Question and Answer**__

__**(a)**__ **Give 3 economic benefits of American intervention in the Caribbean region between 1900 and 1933.**

Three economic benefits of the American intervention were; firstly that there was an increase in the amount of American capital in the countries. The capital that was invested filtered through the countries. Secondly, their intervention brought some stability to the region. The violence that often took place in countries such as Haiti temporarily stopped when the Americans came. Thirdly, the American presence was seen as a boost for other businesses to develop.


 * (b) Name 3 countries where the United States intervened during this time.**

Three countries that the Americans intervened in during this period were Haiti, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.


 * (c) What were the MAIN reasons for American intervention during this period?**

The main reasons for American intervention were the following; fulfilling a role as regional policemen via dollar diplomacy and big stick policy, protecting American capital and ensuring regional stability.

The Americans saw it as their role as regional policemen to preserve stability in this period. It was not difficult as they were the strongest power in the region. They believed in the Monroe Doctrine and Manifest Destiny that it was their rightful place to dominate the region.

The policies of big stick and dollar diplomacy were really tools used to put this plan into action. The threat of violence by the Americans was able to ensure that civil disturbances in Caribbean countries did not get violent.

The Americans wanted to ensure that their capital investments were protected in these countries. In the period 1900- 1933 there were millions of American dollars invested in the region. Because they had a lot of money invested in the region, the Americans believed that it was their right to interfere in the affairs in the region.

The US government felt that it was important to American security that there was regional security. They felt that their stability was tied up with Caribbean's stability as they had capital tied up in the Caribbean.


 * __Related past paper questions__**

1. Name 2 British Caribbean territories in which the US set up military bases during World War 2.

2. Give 2 ways in which British Caribbean territories benefited from the US bases.

3. Give 3 ways in which the US affected economic growth in the British Caribbean between 1945 and 1985.

4. Explain how the US influenced the economy of the British Caribbean between 1945 and 1962.