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80 Years Ago in Central America

Even under Woodrow Wilson, seen as one of the United States' most democratic presidents, American governments would support military strongmen, from China to Chile, who guaranteed to protect US economic interests, instead of democratic governments which could not be so easily controlled. US interest in Mexican affairs, aside from any other considerations, was heavily influenced by investments by American businesses, in total worth more than $1 billion, which had taken place under pro-US dictator Porfirio Diaz. He was overthrown in a revolution in 1910 led by Francisco Madero, promising democratic reforms. This caused concern among the American investors, and Madero in turn was overthrown by the US-backed General Victoriano Huerta in 1913. Huerta, however, had Madero murdered, and this was too much for Wilson.

Francisco Pancho Villa, (1878-1923), who had been a supporter of General Huerta, joins with another revolutionary, Carranza, who now has Wilson's support, and together they defeat the general in 1914. Rivalry between the two leaders leads to a break, and Villa flees to the northern mountains with another rebel leader, Emiliano Zapata. Villa makes raids into the United States hoping to provoke an American counterattack that would lead to the fall of Carranza. In 1916, Carranza agrees to allow an American military force, led by General J. Perhsing, to enter northern Mexico to crush Villa's rebel army. American troops advance 500 km into Mexican territory, and never do find Villa, but do attack some regular Mexican army units. So far. Villa's plan was working as this misunderstanding almost led to open war between the US and Carranza. Talks were held to settle the problems, but by April 1917, the United States had entered the First World War and their troops were withdrawn from Mexico. Villa continues his guerrilla activities until Carranza is finally overthrown in 1920. Villa then agreed to retire from politics. On June 20, 1923, Villa was assassinated on his ranch in Parral. Pancho Villa is still a folk hero to many Mexicans.

President Woodrow Wilson's foreign policy continued and expanded US military intervention in the Caribbean and Central America, invading the Dominican Republic in 1916, Haiti in 1915 (American troops stay until 1934), and Nicaragua twice, once in 1912-1925 and again in 1927-1933. American marines landed in Cuba between 1906- 08, invaded again in 1912, and in 1917 (the last time to prevent Cuba from increasing sugar prices). Honduras was invaded by US troops in 1905, the first of five interventions over the next 20 years. In 1921, the then US president, Calvin Coolidge, supports the overthrow of President Herrera of Guatemala, to protect the US-owned United Fruit Company. In El Salvador in 1932, the United States sends a naval force to help put down a communist rising there.

Frida Kahlo was born in Mexico in 1907 and became one of this century's greatest artists. She suffered much physical hardship in her life, surviving an attack of polio when she was six, and at 18, she was severely injured in a bus accident, suffering permanent back injuries. Kahlo went to the best schools in Mexico, at a time when it was unusual for girls to be given an education. As a young woman she annoyed her family by wearing men's clothes to family functions. Kahlo married Diego Rivera, maybe Mexico's most famous artist, in 1929, but their relationship was very stormy. They divorced in 1939, but could not remain apart and remarried in 1940. Kahlo's emotional and physical pain is often shown in her self portraits through exaggerated features, like heavy eye brows, or she shows herself wearing thorns. She developed her own unique style, although Kahlo is often considered related to the Surrealist school. She died in 1954, while Rivera died three years later. did most of her painting.

Below is the"Self Portrait with Portrait of Dr. Juan Farill" done in 1951. This is one of her more true-to-life portraits, showing her in her wheelchair, from which she which she did most of her painting.

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