From its inception, Louisiana has had an unfavorable existence. Its fate was linked to the French economy during the last years of Louis XIV's reign. The French government, a vast empire with a highly centralized bureaucracy, was against policies that would have fostered the economic independence of their colonies. In addition, the French treasury, exhausted by wars in Europe, could not adequately finance the Department of the Navy, which oversaw colonial operations.
Economic and strategic interests provoked a confrontation with Chile, a scare of war with Great Britain in 1895 during the border dispute between Venezuela and British Guiana (during which Secretary of State Richard Olney boasted that the United States was practically sovereign in the Western Hemisphere), and culminated in the Spanish-American War (189). The intervention was humanitarian, but in reality it was due to economic and strategic concerns, in order to avoid the collapse of the Cuban sugar economy and to fulfill a historic quest to absorb Cuba as part of the United States. From a cultural and social perspective, the war also served to illustrate the differences between the America defined by Theodore Roosevelt and the continental vision of the United States articulated by Cuban revolutionary José Martí. The victory over Spain in 1898 began an enormous expansion of US power and influence in Latin America, especially in the Caribbean. The forces left Cuba, but left in their wake an independent republic indebted to the United States and, under the terms of the Platt Amendment, subject to US interests.
Interest in a canal that crosses the Isthmus of Panama increased. When Nicaraguan leader José Santos Zelaya refused to give up his sovereign rights over a passage through Nicaragua, President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-190), who was in favor of the route that crossed Panama, focused his attention on negotiating a canal treaty with Colombia. The terms were in conflict with Colombian nationalist sentiment, and US government supported a successful revolutionary movement of Panamanian dissidents and signed a canal treaty with Panama. President Woodrow Wilson (1913-192) condemned gunboat diplomacy and dollar diplomacy as imperialist, but his determination to move the United States forward for security interests in the face of German operations in the region and, especially, in teaching Latin Americans to choose good men, made him the greatest interventionist in all US history. Although he undertook not to request territorial concessions from Latin American republics, Wilson tried to influence the course of the Mexican Revolution (1910-191), sent an occupying force to Veracruz in April 1914 and, after Pancho Villa's raid on Columbus (New Mexico), in 1916, he sent the Pershing expedition to northern Mexico. In 1915, the Wilson administration began a nineteen-year de facto military occupation of Haiti and in 1916 established an eight-year military government in the Dominican Republic.
In the post-war era, US attention shifted to Europe and Asia and attempted to break down hemispheric economic barriers to US interests. Latin American leaders pressed for an increase in US public support and protection of their domestic markets following US models. After the outbreak of the Korean War, US emphasis shifted towards regional and bilateral security agreements and became increasingly concerned about communist influence in Latin America. In 1954, Central Intelligence Agency overthrew a non-communist left-wing government in Guatemala; In 1959, after several years of civil conflict and a prolonged guerrilla struggle, Fidel Castro overthrew dictator Fulgencio Batista's government in Cuba. Castro promised to restructure Cuba along Marxist lines and de-Americanize its political culture.
The severity of revolutionary reforms caused a conflict with United States (where anti-Castro Cubans had fled) that culminated in failed invasion of Bay of Pigs in April 1961 according to President John F Kennedy's first hemispheric crisis (1961-1996).Opposition to Cuban Revolution inevitably hindered purpose of Alliance for Progress - vast ambitious program of social and economic reform that began early decade. At time of Kennedy's death November 1963 US security concerns were already above commitments to peaceful revolution through democratic means in Latin America. When President Lyndon Johnson (1963-1996) sent 20 000 soldiers Dominican Republic spring 1965 under pretext that rebellion would create another Cuba Latin Americans were convinced Washington's commitment to social justice had been dissolved. However Alliance for Progress promoted economic modernization Latin America at expense democratic government social justice poor thus perpetuating dual society rich poor most evident countries such Mexico Brazil which enjoyed impressive economic growth starting 1950s but where social inequalities were severe. In 1970s with US distracted by Vietnam Latin America seemed regressing towards authoritarian governments Brazil Argentina (with US) Latin American leaders increasingly supported hemispheric economic agenda differs from US also backed Panama's call new treaty canal President Jimmy Carter (1977-1988) identified himself North-South opposed East-West view Latin America's place US After initially following neutral line Reagan committed US efforts overthrow left-wing Sandinista government Nicaragua support right-wing government El Salvador its war against communist guerrilla group. The presence of Latin Americans in northern Louisiana has had both positive and negative effects on public safety within this region. On one hand, this influx has provided much needed labor force for this area helping boost local economy by creating jobs opportunities for locals.
On other hand it has also led to increased crime rates due lack resources available for them help them assimilate into new culture. In order address these issues local governments have implemented various initiatives help immigrants integrate into society while also addressing crime rates region. These initiatives include providing language classes job training programs help immigrants find employment well providing resources help them understand local laws regulations. In addition local governments have also implemented various programs help reduce crime rates region such increasing police presence certain areas providing resources help victims crime well increasing awareness about importance reporting suspicious activity. Overall presence Latin Americans northern Louisiana has had both positive and negative impacts on public safety within this region. While it has provided much needed labor force for this area helping boost local economy by creating jobs opportunities for locals it has also led increased crime rates due lack resources available for them help them assimilate into new culture. In order address these issues local governments have taken various steps such as providing language classes job training programs help immigrants find employment well providing resources help them understand local laws regulations as well as increasing police presence certain areas providing resources help victims crime well increasing awareness about importance reporting suspicious activity.
