NationMaster - Encyclopedia: The Banana Wars

The Banana Wars is an unofficial term that refers to the United States military interventions into Central and South America from 1898 (following the Spanish-American War) through 1934. Image File history File links Sandinoflagusmc. ... Image File history File links Sandinoflagusmc. ... Sandino (centre) en route to Mexico. ... Map of Central America Central America is an area of the American continent in the Western Hemisphere. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

Often, these interventions were carried out by the United States Marine Corps. On occasion, U.S Naval gunfire and U.S. Army troops were also used. United States Marine Corps seal The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the U.S. military. ... Naval gunfire support (NGFS) comprises the use of naval artillery to provide fire support support for amphibious assault troops. ... US Army Seal The United States Army is the branch of the United States armed forces that has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ...

Many times, there were alleged connections between the interventions and the preservation of various United States commercial interests in the region. Most prominently, the United Fruit corporation had significant financial stakes in production of bananas, tabacco, sugar cane, and various other agricultural products throughout the Carribean, Central America and the northern portions of South America. This is the probable source of the term "Banana War." The United Fruit Company (1899-1970) became prominent in the import-export trade of tropical fruit (notably bananas and pineapples) coming from Third World plantations and sent to the United States and Europe. ... Banana can be The Banana fruit The town Banana, Queensland The town Banana, Democratic Republic of the Congo The Rev. ... Species N. alata N. bigelovil N. debneyi N. excelsior N. exigua N. glauca N. glutinosa N. kawakamii N. knightiana N. longiflora N. sylvestris N. tabacum Ref: ITIS 30562 as of 2002-08-28 Tobacco () is a broad-leafed plant of the nightshade family, indigenous to North and South America, whose... Species Ref: ITIS 42058 as of 2004-05-05 Sugarcane is one of six species of a tall tropical southeast Asian grass (Family Poaceae) having stout fibrous jointed stalks whose sap at one time was the primary source of sugar. ... The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... Map of Central America Central America is an area of the American continent in the Western Hemisphere. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ...

Americans advocating imperialism in the pre-World War I era often argued that these conflicts helped central and South Americans by aiding in stability. Some imperialists argued that these limited interventions did not serve US interests sufficiently and argued for expanded actions in the region. Imperialism is a policy of extending control or authority over foreign entities as a means of acquisition and/or maintenance of empires, either through direct territorial conquest or settlement, or through indirect methods of exerting control on the politics and/or economy of other countries. ... Combatants Allies: Serbia, Russia, France, Romania, Belgium, British Empire, United States, Italy, and others Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire Casualties Military dead:5 million Civilian dead:3 million Total dead:8 million Military dead:4 million Civilian dead:3 million Total dead:7 million The First World... A cartoon portraying the British Empire as an octopus, reaching into foreign lands Imperialism is a policy of extending the control or authority over foreign entities as a means of acquisition and/or maintenance of empires, either through direct territorial or through indirect methods of exerting control on the politics...

American observers opposed to imperialist thought and argued that these actions were a first step down a slippery slope towards American colonial domination in the region. Imperialism is the policy of extending the control or authority over foreign entities as a means of acquisition and/or maintenance of empires, either through direct territorial or through indirect methods of exerting control on the politics and/or economy of other countries. ...

Some modern observers have argued that had not the World War I lessened American enthusiasm for international activity these interventions might have led to the formation of an expanded U.S. colonial empire, with Central American states either annexed into Statehood like Hawaii or becoming American colonies, like the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam. This view is, however, heavily disputed, especially as, after a decrease in activity during and after the War, the U.S. government intervened again in the 1920s while again stating that it was without colonial ambitions. Combatants Allies: Serbia, Russia, France, Romania, Belgium, British Empire, United States, Italy, and others Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire Casualties Military dead:5 million Civilian dead:3 million Total dead:8 million Military dead:4 million Civilian dead:3 million Total dead:7 million The First World... Official language(s) Hawaiian and English Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 43rd 28,337 kmÂ² n/a km 2,450 km 41. ... This article refers to a colony in politics and history. ...

The Banana Wars ended with the 1934 Good Neighbor Policy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt; no American colonies had been created. The Good Neighbor policy was the policy of the United States Administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in relation to Latin America and Europe during 1933-45, when the active U.S. intervention of previous decades was moderated in pursuit of hemispheric solidarity against external threats. ... Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882 â€“ April 12, 1945) was an American politican from the U.S. state of New York. ...

Countries involved in The Banana Wars:

However many other countries in the region may have been influenced or dominated by American banana or other companies, there is no history of U.S. military intervention in those countries. Thus, they cannot be considered to have been part of the Banana Wars.