Neighbour” policy agreed that the US would not intervene in the internal affairs of any state, and would give economic and technical assistance to Latin America. Dollar Imperialism, the term used to describe the policy of the USA in maintaining and dominating over distant lands through economic aid. US Imperial Interests At the dawn of the twentieth century the United States had occupied Cuba and Puerto Rico, after defeating the Spanish in . From to Cuba was under US military rule.
When the Americans finally left they retained a naval station in Cuba. President of the USA Theodore Roosevelt made an important amendment to the doctrine in . It authorised US intervention in Latin America ‘in order to maintain order.’ After effecting this amendment, the US became the dominant influence not only politically but also in economics. Great Depression in South America The situation created by the Great Depression made it impossible for oligarchic Theodore Roosevelt SUMMARY Intensification of anti-colonial struggles commenced from the end of the First World War The harsh decisions in the Paris Peace Conference against the defeated countries destabilised the ruling regimes and created a climate for the rise of fascism especially in Italy and Germany.
The economic slump originating in the US in and subsequently affecting all capitalist countries in the world resulted in changes in polity and society. Decolonisation process was quickened during the inter-war period in India. The Munroe Doctrine prevented colonisation of Latin American countries by European powers and thereby ensured early sovereign status to them. Later this was regarded by Latin Americans as a cover for American intervention and exploitation of the resources of their countries.