First Advisor

Frederick M. Nunn

Term of Graduation

Summer 1982

Date of Publication

7-22-1982

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.) in History

Department

History

Language

English

Subjects

Germany -- Foreign relations -- Mexico, Mexico -- Foreign relations -- Germany, United States -- Foreign relations -- Mexico, Mexico -- Foreign relations -- United States, Germany -- Foreign relations -- 1888-1918

DOI

10.15760/etd.3188

Physical Description

1 online resource (2, 170 pages)

Abstract

The thesis focuses on Germany's Mexican policies from 1911 to 1917, with particular attention given to the connection of these policies to political relations between the United States and Germany and between the United States and Mexico. The paper also attempts to place German activities in Mexico within the context of Germany's desire to promote its political and economic interests on a worldwide scale. Although some unpublished sources were consulted, the account relies mostly on published documents, memoirs, and secondary sources for its factual basis.

After a brief discussion of trends in German-Amercan relations during the years leading up to the First World War, and a summary of German economic interests in Mexico, the thesis examines a number of means employed by Germany to exploit the value of Mexico's proximity to the United States. German policy with regard to Mexico was largely calculated to protect and promote Germany's long-term strategic interests in Latin America and throughout the world. Germany maintained a low profile in Mexico during most of this period, but contemplated various strategies involving Mexico to stir up trouble between the United States and other countries, most particularly Japan.

The advent of the First World War, however, brought about an intensification of Germany's activities in Mexico. Hoping that the United States could be diverted or tied down by significant difficulties in Mexico, which was at that time torn between revolutionary factions, Germany employed various means to create and intensify tensions between the United States and Mexico. The thesis examines some of these attempts, and concludes that Germany's activity in Mexico was an indirect but important factor behind President Woodrow Wilson's decision to declare war on Germany in 1917.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Comments

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Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/18432

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