Strategic Favoritism: Exploring the American Response to the Mexican Revolution, 1900 – 1920

This investigation examines the strategic favoritism displayed by the United States toward six Mexican revolutionaries in the years leading up to and during the Mexican Revolution.1 Using both primary sources and existent historiographical discussions, I begin by illuminating the fears that many American politicians felt in respect to both revolutionary leaders and immigrants from Mexico—along with the foreign radicalism they were suspected of endorsing. Applying lessons learned through the previous implementation of restrictive immigration policies, United States officials opted for addressing incoming Mexican radicalism by selectively favoring revolutionary factions. While moderate rebels enjoyed uncontroversial press and political support, more extreme revolutionaries were subject to slander and even persecution. I argue that although this approach strove to protect American ideals, these foreign policies merely highlighted the biased manner in which the United States government attempted to protect itself and its citizens.