Masters Thesis

Woodrow Wilson's crusade against Victoriano Huerta: economic and political democracy for Mexico

President Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated on March 4, 1913. At this time General Victoriano Huerta was in control of the Mexican government. Former President Francisco I. Madero had been forced to resign his office on February 19, 1913, as a result of a military coup. Madero was subsequently assassinated along with his vice president, and Huerta assumed the Provisional Presidency of Mexico. Huerta's position was challenged by groups of rebellious soldiers from northern Mexico, many of whom called themselves Constitutionalists and claimed the intention of re-establishing constitutional government in Mexico. Huerta's administration had not received diplomatic recognition from the United States while William H. Taft occupied the presidency. Therefore, it was Wilson's responsibility to decide whether or not to extend diplomatic recognition to the Huerta regime and to formulate a viable Mexican policy. Just one week after his inauguration, Wilson issued a policy statement concerning United States-Mexico relations. This statement formed the basis for Wilson's diplomatic dealings with Mexico throughout the administration of Victoriano Huerta. It is clear from Woodrow Wilson's public statements that he formulated his Mexican policy regarding the administration of Victoriano Huerta in accordance with high ideals of morality and unselfishness. Wilson insisted that the Mexican people must be governed by a democratic administration in accordance with a Constitution guaranteeing basic rights and freedoms to the people. No doubt this was the most important consideration. However, there is strong evidence of two other factors which must also be considered. First, time and again President Wilson manifested his disdain for foreign investors in Mexico, both American and European. Wilson's unconcern for the lives and property of Americans in Mexico is best understood in this context. Wilson's policy received opposition from many important sources on this very issue. Secondly, Wilson revealed in private statements and letters a strong personal animosity toward General Victoriano Huerta. This characteristic, reminiscent of Wilson's personality struggles at other periods of his life, explains the continual insistence of Wilson that he was fighting Huerta, not the Mexican people.

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