4.4 Latin American Responses to U.S. Hegemony

Latin America faced growing U.S. influence in the early 20th century. Anti-imperialist movements emerged, led by figures like José Martí and Rubén Darío. They fought for sovereignty and resisted U.S. economic exploitation and military interventions.

Latin American nations developed diplomatic doctrines to counter U.S. power. The Calvo and Drago Doctrines aimed to limit foreign intervention. Cultural responses like Pan-Americanism and Arielismo celebrated Latin American identity and values.

Opposition to U.S. Influence

Anti-Imperialist Movements

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  World in View: Cuban Revolution's dual heritage - News and Letters Committees View original

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Top images from around the web for Anti-Imperialist Movements

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  World in View: Cuban Revolution's dual heritage - News and Letters Committees View original

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  This is what anti-imperialism looks like: Call for posters : Peoples Dispatch View original

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  This is what anti-imperialism looks like: Call for posters : Peoples Dispatch View original

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  World in View: Cuban Revolution's dual heritage - News and Letters Committees View original

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• Anti-imperialist movements emerged in Latin America as a response to growing U.S. influence and interventionism in the region
• These movements sought to assert national sovereignty and resist foreign domination, particularly from the United States
• Anti-imperialist sentiments were fueled by resentment towards U.S. economic exploitation, political interference, and military interventions in Latin American affairs
• Nationalist leaders and intellectuals played a key role in mobilizing public opinion against U.S. imperialism and advocating for greater autonomy and self-determination

Prominent Latin American Figures

• José Martí, a Cuban poet, essayist, and revolutionary, was a leading figure in the struggle against Spanish colonialism and U.S. imperialism
  • Martí advocated for Cuban independence and warned against the dangers of U.S. expansionism in his writings, such as "Our America" (1891)
  • He played a crucial role in organizing the Cuban War of Independence (1895-1898) and died fighting against Spanish forces
• Rubén Darío, a Nicaraguan poet and diplomat, was a central figure in the Modernismo literary movement and a critic of U.S. imperialism
  • Darío's poetry, such as "To Roosevelt" (1905), denounced U.S. interventionism and celebrated Latin American cultural identity
  • He promoted the idea of a shared Latin American heritage and called for unity among the region's nations to resist foreign domination

Diplomatic Doctrines

Latin American Responses to U.S. Interventionism

• The Calvo Doctrine, named after Argentine jurist Carlos Calvo, asserted that foreign investors should be subject to the laws and courts of the host country and not entitled to special privileges or protection from their home governments
  • This doctrine sought to limit the ability of foreign powers, particularly the United States, to intervene in Latin American affairs on behalf of their citizens' economic interests
  • The Calvo Doctrine was adopted by several Latin American countries in their constitutions and treaties to assert their sovereignty and jurisdiction over foreign investments
• The Drago Doctrine, proposed by Argentine foreign minister Luis María Drago, argued that public debt should not be used as a justification for military intervention or the occupation of Latin American countries by foreign powers
  • This doctrine was a response to the blockade of Venezuelan ports by European powers in 1902-1903 to collect unpaid debts
  • The Drago Doctrine challenged the use of force in debt collection and asserted the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of sovereign nations

Cultural and Intellectual Responses

Pan-Americanism and Latin American Identity

• Pan-Americanism emerged as a movement that promoted cooperation, solidarity, and cultural exchange among the nations of the Americas
  • This idea sought to foster a sense of shared identity and common interests among the countries of the Western Hemisphere, while also acknowledging their distinct histories and cultures
  • Pan-American conferences, such as the First International Conference of American States (1889-1890) in Washington, D.C., provided a platform for discussing issues of mutual concern and promoting inter-American collaboration
• Arielismo, named after the essay "Ariel" (1900) by Uruguayan writer José Enrique Rodó, was an intellectual movement that celebrated Latin American spirituality, idealism, and cultural refinement in contrast to the materialism and utilitarianism associated with the United States
  • Rodó's essay portrayed Latin America as the embodiment of Ariel, a symbol of beauty, art, and moral values, while the United States was represented by Caliban, a symbol of pragmatism, commercialism, and vulgarity
  • Arielismo influenced a generation of Latin American intellectuals who sought to assert the region's cultural distinctiveness and resist the influence of U.S. values and customs