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History That Doesn't Suck

127: Mr. Wilson Goes to Washington (Progressive Policies & Foreign Affairs in South America)

History That Doesn't Suck

Prof. Greg Jackson

History, Education

4.7 • 6.2K Ratings

🗓️ 13 February 2023

⏱️ 60 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“It would be the irony of fate if my administration had to deal chiefly with foreign affairs.”


This is the story of the lesser-known aspects of Woodrow Wilson’s presidency–the events outside of World War I.


The Progressive Era is still in full force as Woodrow Wilson enters the White House. Amid constitutional amendments 16 and 17, Woodrow continues to carry this wave of reform with a new central banking system, income tax, and monopoly-checking regulations. He does so, however, at the expense of his state-focused presidential platform. Ironically, he’s adopting a more federal and “Theodore Roosevelt” approach. 


But the true irony is the growing focus on foreign affairs. Woodrow knows little to nothing of the world beyond the United States, but with Mexico in revolution and concerns about Germany getting a foothold in the Caribbean, the self-proclaimed anti-imperialist professor finds himself relying on military interventions in South America more often than any of his predecessors. Woodrow is learning the challenges of foreign policy the hard way; he’s doing so while facing the terrible grief of his wife’s death.

____


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Transcript

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0:50.7

It's one o'clock in the afternoon, December 16th, 1914, and eight Americans are

0:56.0

walking briskly from the harbor into the city of Portoprints, Haiti. Their rapid movement

1:01.5

feels out of place, as do the canes in their hands. They're also armed with revolvers.

1:07.6

But with most Haitians taking their lunch break or afternoon siesta right now,

1:11.6

few are around to see much less take note of their speed or light armaments.

1:16.1

And so, the small group of men continue through the almost empty streets,

1:19.6

through Plac Gefer, then reach their destination. La Banque Nationale de la République d'Aïti.

1:26.1

That is, the National Bank of the Republic of Haiti.

1:31.5

Entering the two-story white colonial building, the eight Americans approach the bank staff.

1:36.7

Undoubtedly, the Haitian employees must be alarmed by the canes and guns. If the

1:40.2

bank's French and American employees appear calm, as they quickly load 17 wooden boxes with gold,

...

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