The Melding Americas : U.S. IN THE HEMISPHERE

1823--MONROE DOCTRINE

President James Monroe outlines U.S. foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere. The United States would regard as unfriendly any attempt by a European nation to interfere in the affairs of the American countries or increase its possessions on the American continents.

1846-48--MEXICAN WAR

The United States battles Mexico over land disputes, including Mexico’s desire to regain Texas territoryt ceded in 1836 and its refusal to consider President James K. Polk’s proposal to purchase California. Mexico loses two-fifths of its land.

and other western territories.

1855-57--WALKER FILIBUSTER

William Walker, an American mercenary, leads a revolutionary faction to power in Nicaragua. Walker declaers himself president in 1856 and promotes slavery as an enticement for annexation to the United States. His government is overthrown in 1857.

1868-1878--10-YEAR WAR

Cuban nationalists fail in a bid for the island’s independence from Spain. In the United States, public sympathy and support for Cuban independence grow.

1898--SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR

After three years of war with Cuba over it independence, Spain is suspected of sinking the U.S. battleship Maine in Havana Harbor in February. Hostilities increase untilSpain declares war on the United States in April. After a brief but decisive conflict, Spain relinquishes sovereignty over Cuba, and Puerto Rico becomes a U.S. territory.

1901--PLATT AMENDMENT

Sen. Orville H. Platt sponsors a rider to the Army appropriations bill of 1901 that gives the United States the right to establish military bases in Cuba and authorizes U.S. intervention in Cuban affairs. The amendment was repealed in 1934.

1903--PANAMA CANAL TREATY

The United States intervenes in Panama’s fight for independence from Colombia and is granted use of a 10-mile wide canal zone and other defense sites in Panama.

ROOSEVELT COROLLARY

President Theodore Roosevelt, in an interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, declares that continued misconduct or disturbance in a Latin American country might force the United States to intervene to prevent European intervention.

1914--OPENING OF PANAMA CANAL

The lock canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans is completed after nine years of construction at a cost of $336.7 million.

1928--CLARK MEMORANDUM

A memorandum on the Monroe doctrine developed by Undersecretary of State J. Reuben Clark Jr. reinstates the Monroe Doctrine in its original form and meaning and repudiates a policy of intervention.

1933--’GOOD NEIGHBOR’ POLICY

President Franklin D. Roosevelt outlines a policy that includes the signing of reciprocal trade agreements with many countries. U.S. relations with Latin American countries greatly improve.

1945--ACT OF CHAPULTEPEC

A declaration made by 20 American republics provides for common action against an aggressor from outside or inside the region. It expands the Monroe Doctrine into a mutual security system.

1948--ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES

The regional agency is created to promte peace, justice and hemispherical solidarity.

1958-1959--CUBAN REVOLUTION

Revolutionary Fidel Castro overthrows President Fulgencio Batista and establishes a Communist regime on the island 90 miles from the Florida coast.

1961--ALLIANCE FOR PROGRESS

President John F. Kennedy establishes an assistance program for Latin America that aims to relieve poverty and social inequality.

1961--BAY OF PIGS

In an effort to overthrow Castro, 1,500 CIA-trained Cuban exiles invade the island nation’s southern coast in April. Though President Dwight D. Eisenhower had originally approved the mission, his successor, Kennedy, refuses to athorize air support, and the rebels are easily defeated.

1962--CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

After learning that the Soviet Union is building missile launch sites in Cuba, President Kennedy orders a naval blockade to halt further shipment of arms and demands the removal of all missiles from Cuba. For several days in October, the world stands on the brink of nuclear war, until Soviet ships turn back and all missiles are withdrawn.

1977--PANAMA CANAL TREATY

The United States and Panama agree to jointly control the Panama Canal Zone until 2000, when Panama will assume full control.

1980--MARIEL BOAT LIFT

A mass migration of asylum-seekers by boat brings approximately 125,000 Cubans, from the island’s port of Mariel, and 25,000 Haitians to South Florida over a six-month period under President Jimmy Carter’s “Open Door” policy. Nearly 3,000 Cubans are later discovered to be criminals and mental patients. Immigration officials are unable to cope with processing and resettlement problems.

1981--HAITIAN REPARTRIATION

The United States and Haiti reach an agreement on the forcible repatriation of Haitian immigrants.

1980s--AID TO NICARAGUAN REBELS

The United States under President Reagan organizes and funds a counterrevolutinary force, called the Contras, to oppose the leftist Sandinista government.

1983--BOLAND AMENDMENTS

Congress enacts legislation, named for House Intelligence Committee Chairman Edward P. Boland (D-Mass.), prohibiting the Defense Department, the CIA or any government agency from providing military aid to the Contras in Nicaragua. But the Reagan Administration circumvents the ban by using the National Security Council, not explicitly mentioned in the Boland amendments, to supervise covert military aid to the rebels.

1983--INVASION OF GRENADA

The United States under President Reagan invades and occupies the West Indian republic after its prime minister, Maurice Bishop, is executed and its army seizes control. The ostensible aim of the opeation is to rescue several hundred U.S. medical students at the offshore University of St. George’s.

1987--CUBAN REPATRIATION

Cuba agrees to reinstate an immigration agreement that would allow the United States to return to Cuba the criminals and mental patients that entered the United States during the 1980 Mariel boat lift.

1989--INVASION OF PANAMA

The United States invades Panama after two years of confrontations with strongman Gen. Manuel A. Noriega. President George Bush lists the invasion’s goals as arresting Noriega and bringing him to the United States to face trial on drug-trafficking charges, safeguarding the operations of the Panama Canal and restoring democracy to Panama. Noriega eventually surrenders.

1992--NAFTA

The Presidents of the United States, Canada and Mexico sign the North American Free Trade Agreement, eliminating many trade barriers and tariffs to create one large free-trade bloc.

1994--HAITI INTERVENTION

U.S. troops occupy the island nation after a delegation led by former President Jimmy Carter strikes a deal with the military regime led by Lt. Gen. Raoul Cedras that overthrew the democratically-elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. After months of threats, President Bill Clinton had been ready to order an invasion when Carter persuaded Cedras to step down.

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Sources: The Latin American Political Dictionary, ABC-Clio Inc., 1980; World Book Encyclopedia; Encyclopedia Americana; Webster’s New World Dictionary; The Columbia Encyclopedia, 5th ed.; Los Angeles Times files

Compiled by Times researcher JANET LUNDBLAD