United States Intervention in Nicaragua, 1911/1912 In the years preceding World War I, there were two great powers competing for political influence in Latin America, those powers they were the United States and Mexican governments. The United States intervened more directly in Nicaragua on two separate fronts in 1911 and 1912. The goal was to secure a government that was ideologically similar and friendly in terms of foreign affairs with the United States. commercial interests would be on the agenda and a priority for Nicaragua2. Alongside this, the Nicaraguan government would then serve as an example, under the watchful protection of the United States, of a stable form of government in Central and Latin America3. During this time, officials who were in President Taft's administration saw U.S. intervention in Nicaragua as a way to verify good governance, but this caused a reaction that would be seen by many Nicaraguans as a general invasion of their sovereignty. as a nation seeking economic and political advantage. 4. US Secretary of State Knox, throughout this period, became very concerned about the President of Nicaragua, OJs Zelda. This was because Zelaya had come to power through a military coup in 18935. However, even during his time as president, Zelaya embarked on the internal improvement of his country. It did so by mainly courting foreign investors, including some from the United States. However, it can be noted that Knox was mostly concerned about Zelda and her negotiations with the Japanese government for the construction of a transoceanic canal6. Knox later in 1909 wanted to find a way to get Zelaya out of power... middle of paper... social imperialism and imperial rivalry in the world system. Durham: Duke University Press, 1991.Solaún, Mauricio. US intervention and regime change in Nicaragua. Lincoln, Nebraska [ua: Univ. of Nebraska Press, 2005 "The Washington Herald., Aug. 27, 1912, page 2, image 2." The Washington Herald., August 27, 1912, page 2, image 2. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045433/1912-08-27/ed-1/seq-2/#words=cruisers+Denver&date1= 1911&sort=relevance& lines=20&searchType=basic&state=&date2=1912&proxtext=cruiser+denver&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=4&page=5&index=5 (accessed February 10, 2014). Tucker, Spencer. Almanac of American Military History. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, 2013."United States Intervention in Nicaragua, 1911/1912." United States intervention in Nicaragua, 1911/1912. http://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/ip/108629.htm (accessed February 25, 2014).