An Affair of Honor offers a detailed insight of the events leading up to and through out the military occupation of Veracruz, that took place during the months of April 1914 thru November 1914. It was no secret that before this ordeal took place that the American president, Woodrow Willow, had refused to acknowledge the regime of Mexican Military dictator Victoriano Huerta. Huerta, who had come to power as a result of a military coup, Wilson saw as illegitimate and a threat to any chance of a democratic Mexico. For this reason, Quick claims that, the United States’ Occupation of Veracruz took place solely based off President Wilson’s desire to see the Huerta regime removed from power and that the clash was incited based of minuscule incidents
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Starting with the revolution that is transpiring throughout Mexico between the federal forces of Huerta and those of General Carrranza. With this fighting taking place around the port city of Tampico, which housed a good deal of American interests, a U.S. Navy division under the command of Admiral Mayo was dispatched to Tampico to watch over the situation. While there, a few irrelevant incidents transpired between Mexican soldiers and U.S. military personnel (of which the Mexican commander apologized), this was not enough to appease Mayo, who in turn demanded that Huerta’s government formally apologize to the U.S by rendering a military salute. Mayo of course made this ultimatum on his own accord, but it was supported by President Wilson. The next segment shows that a diplomatic solution to these demands could not be obtained through the American Ambassador and Huerta, because both countries were to proud to give into one another’s requests. Wilson used these events, of which he had little factual evidence to rally support from the public to support Mayo’s demand. Mayo was left in charge of the situation and the Atlantic fleet was sent to support him. While the course of action was being drawn up, the U.S government hears of a ship containing weapons and ammo is heading to Veracruz. The president deems that these arms cannot fall into the hands of Huerta, so he shifts the command to Admiral Fletcher to land at Veracruz and seize strategic locations to prevent the ship from unloading. Once these forces land, they are shot at and return fire causing minor casualties on both sides. This leads to a military occupation of Veracruz, in which a military government is established and the city is restored to order. With this new government in place, the view shifts from once of occupation to one of rendering aid. Through this assistance, new qualities of life are brought to Veracruz and Huerta eventually is ousted. After
Starting with the revolution that is transpiring throughout Mexico between the federal forces of Huerta and those of General Carrranza. With this fighting taking place around the port city of Tampico, which housed a good deal of American interests, a U.S. Navy division under the command of Admiral Mayo was dispatched to Tampico to watch over the situation. While there, a few irrelevant incidents transpired between Mexican soldiers and U.S. military personnel (of which the Mexican commander apologized), this was not enough to appease Mayo, who in turn demanded that Huerta’s government formally apologize to the U.S by rendering a military salute. Mayo of course made this ultimatum on his own accord, but it was supported by President Wilson. The next segment shows that a diplomatic solution to these demands could not be obtained through the American Ambassador and Huerta, because both countries were to proud to give into one another’s requests. Wilson used these events, of which he had little factual evidence to rally support from the public to support Mayo’s demand. Mayo was left in charge of the situation and the Atlantic fleet was sent to support him. While the course of action was being drawn up, the U.S government hears of a ship containing weapons and ammo is heading to Veracruz. The president deems that these arms cannot fall into the hands of Huerta, so he shifts the command to Admiral Fletcher to land at Veracruz and seize strategic locations to prevent the ship from unloading. Once these forces land, they are shot at and return fire causing minor casualties on both sides. This leads to a military occupation of Veracruz, in which a military government is established and the city is restored to order. With this new government in place, the view shifts from once of occupation to one of rendering aid. Through this assistance, new qualities of life are brought to Veracruz and Huerta eventually is ousted. After