3b+.Concepts+that+promote+US+superiority

__N.B. A concept is an idea or thought. Those concepts are also referred to as ideologies or paradigms which are ways of thinking.__

__**MANIFEST DESTINY**__

This concept came about in 1801 when Thomas Jefferson, the US President said that it was a natural idea that the US would dominate the Americans including the Caribbean in wealth, power and territory. The US government at this time and from then on promoted the idea that the US was culturally superior and that the US was expected to dominate the Caribbean.


 * __MONROE DOCTRINE__**


 * __Overview__**

From the beginning of the 20th century the US government was pursuing a policy to become one of the world super power. In 1823, the US president at the time, James Monroe stated very clearly an idea that became known as the Monroe Doctrine. He said that America would resist any attempts by foreign especially the Europeans to reclaim and recolonize any part of the American continent and the Caribbean.

__**Details**__

The Monroe Doctrine, proclaimed on the 2nd December 1823, outlined how the USA would deal with other countries in the Americas (South Central America and the Caribbean). It was named after President James Monroe (1758 -1831), the fifth president of the USA, who occupied office from 1817 to 1825.

The Monroe Doctrine had four basic points;
 * The USA would would not interfere in the internal affairs of, or the wars between European powers.
 * The USA recognizes and would not interfere with existing colonies and dependencies in the Western hemisphere.
 * The Western hemisphere was closed to future colonization.
 * Any attempt by a European power to oppress or control any nation in the Western hemisphere would by viewed as a hostile act against the USA.

__**OTHER STRATEGIES**__


 * **Roosevelt Corollary** - In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt added in 'Rossevelt Corollary' to the Monroe Doctrine, which stated that in cases of flagrant and chronic wrongdoing by a Latin American nation, the USA could intervene in the internal affairs of the nation.


 * **Dollar Diplomacy -** Giving aid and soft loans to Caribbean countries in order to foster good relations and get their leaders to give in to US policies. It was basically a way for the US to control events in the Caribbean. The main feature of dollar diplomacy was intervention in the political and economic life of neighbours. Haiti, Panama, Dominican Republic and Cuba were all affected. There were significant economic investments in these countries by Americans so that governments claimed to be stabilizing the counties to ensure economic progress when in fact it was really securing American interests. Between 1900 and 1930, the United States intervened in at least 5 Caribbean and Latin American countries. The US government said that the reason for the interference was to make the governments in these countries more stable but their real intention seemed to be to take control of their economies.


 * **Good Neighbour Policy** - A policy of non- intervention and non- interference. and was geared towards creating more positive, friendly relationships with the countries in South and Central America and the Caribbean. This policy was announced in 1933. It described the policy as one where the US would not intervene in the domestic affairs of other countries even when there was civil unrest in those countries .The policy was introduced by President Franklin D Roosevelt. This policy was different to the other US policies as the US would no longer interfere in other countries' affairs claiming to do so to help bring stability to the countries. The policy was also different as the Americans would not be using their military or economic influence to intimidate other countries.

__Why was the Good Neighbour policy seen as being necessary at the time?__ The policy was felt to be necessary as the United States was increasingly seen as being interventionist and imperialist. The populations in other countries were bitter and US policies were being criticized. The policy was a bid to re- establish the US as a friendly country in the region and one that did not interfere in the local affairs in other countries.

The term ' American imperialism' was coined as the Americans sought to establish themselves in the Caribbean to get economic control. They used force and economic power to ensure this. There were several countries that were literally taken over by the Americans in the 1930s. These included Cuba, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. They had also bought St Croix, St Thomas and St John for 25 million in 1917. The US were seen after that as modern day colonizers.

As the regional people became more sophisticated they grew to resent this intrusion by the Americans and Caribbean governments began to object to the American presence. There were also Americans who felt that these activities were wrong and illegal and also protested American intervention in Caribbean and Latin American issues.

__**US INTERVENTION POLICY**__

During the 18th Century the 2 main priorities were to;


 * prevent European involvement in the Americas
 * expand territory across North America.

During the 19th and 20th Centuries the priority was to control the Caribbean basin, including Central America.