There were two Venezuelan crises at the end of the 1800’s and beginning of the 1900’s that pitted the United States against the European Powers.
The first, the occuring in 1895, saw the extension of the Monroe Doctrine by President Grover Cleveland to include all foreign activity in the Western Hemisphere. The Monroe Doctrine, named after President James Monroe, states that America is in opposition to European Colonialism in both North and South America. Venezuela and Great Britian both claimed territory as belonging to them and President Cleveland took the side of the Latin country.
This stance would again be consequential in 1902. Theodore Roosevelt found himself facing the potential wrath of both Great Britian and Germany because Venezuela wouldn’t pay their debt to both countries. America stood on the brink of war when the European powers sent ships to blockade Venezuela and President Roosevelt let them know that any seizure of territory to pay the debt would not be tolerated. Great Britain immediately agreed to the terms set forth by the President but Germany waited until the last day to agree. With all parties in agreement the three countries were able to avoid war across the Atlantic.
