He was so determined to help others to adopt the ‘American way’ that this „’moral imperialism’ (...) led the idealistic Wilson to use the club of armed intervention more frequently than any other American president.“[140]  It is true, Wilson did want to promote liberty, but he had concerns regarding Latin America, because

            „liberty is not itself government. In the wrong hands - in hands unpracticed,
            undisciplined, - it is incompatible with government(...) They can have liberty no
            cheaper than we got it. They must first take the discipline of law, must first love
            order and instinctively yield to it. (...) We are old in this learning and must be
            their tutors.“[141]

   In 1912 Victoriano Huerta had seized power in Mexico in a bloody overthrow of a public-supported government. Although other countries soon recognized the Huerta administration that was allegedly supported by British oil interests, Wilson refused to do so.[142]   He considered Huerta a dictator who had usurped power without the consent of the Mexican people and denied them the rule of law, consti- tutionalism and liberty. Besides, Wilson did not want to encourage other revolu- tions in Latin America.[143]  He coupled this moral decision with the demand that democratic elections be held in Mexico, which he hoped - believing in the sound
judgement of the people - would drive Huerta out of power. The elections were held - and Huerta won by a large margin.

   Wilson was deeply angered and demanded a ‘moral basis’ as fundament for an Mexican government. On October 27, 1913 Wilson declared in a speech in Mobile, Alabama that the United States who have no more intention to seize one additional foot of territory, will see to that material interests are not made superior to liberty. The U.S. would thus help the Latin American states to be emancipated from exploi- tative foreign concessions that were dangerous and tended to become intolerable. U.S. concessions of course were not exploitative as they were friends in equality and honor.[144]  The president had now established new reasons for American inter- ference.

   When Huerta’s agents arrested 7 U.S. sailors on shore leave and Wilson got to know that a German ship was to unload weapons for Huerta at Vera Cruz. He dis- patched U.S. ships to the port, that  engaged in combat and led Latin American nations to intervene. Huerta was finally replaced by the nationalist Venustiano Carranza. But instead of obeying to Wilson’s demands, Carranza set up an agrarian reform and a nationalization scheme for the country’s mineral resources. Wilson was shocked by this move towards socialism that implied severe threats to U.S.
business interests in Mexico. But all attempts to topple Carranza, by support of his opposition and even a 6,000-troops expedition into Mexico, failed and considering the mounting pressure on the United States from Europe, Wilson had to accept Carranza’s reign.[145]

   President Wilson had a genuine desire for change to democracy while demanding at the same time the maintenance of order. In Latin America, he seemed to prefer order since change might come with radical means.

...The Marines were already protecting the order in Nicaragua by supporting the Díaz government. But he addressed the president in need for more money. In return for the national railway companies, U.S. banks agreed to provide a loan for Nica- ragua. Senate rejected a proposal by Díaz that Nicaragua be turned into an U.S. protectorate. Washington nevertheless injected $ 3 million more into the country for exclusive concessions for a canal.

   In Haiti German and French interests were cooperating with the local dictator. When a revolt broke out in 1914, the U.S. considered it an opportunity to change that situation. Referring to the Monroe-Doctrine, the U.S. Marines were sent in. They exempted $ 500,000 from the state’s treasury as an indemnity. The government collapsed and new riots shook the country. Wilson once more sent the Marines into the country where they would remain for 19 years. In August 1915 the United States were granted exclusive control over Haiti’s foreign and financial matters and the right to intervene whenever necessary.

   In the Dominican Republic as well, riots and disorder had spread across the country in 1914. As before, Wilson demanded U.S. supervised elections and the control of the country’s finances by American banks. To prevent the Dominican government from collapsing over its debts, Wilson had the Marines invade in May 1916; but they were not successful in establishing law and order.
To the contrary, a guerrilla war erupted and after the U.S. troops had withdrawn in 1925, dictatorship was renewed.[146]

   Although interventionism did not seem to get the United States anywhere, a withdrawal from Latin American affairs appeared undesirable and even impossible. Pulling out of these states would endanger America’s national security as it would expose U.S. interests to European intervention. And after all, Wilson as a world power leader and a humanitarian had to do the thinking for Latin Americans.[147]

   Historian Kendrick Clements summarizes the tragedy of Wilson’s approach to  Latin America at unrest: „benevolent motives, backed by seemingly unlimited force, tempted the Americans to intervene where they were not wanted and where they did not understand the situation.“[148]
 Just as ‘Big Stick’ and Dollar Diplomacy before, Wilson’s drive for stability and change had failed to achieve its objectives. Latin America seemed to be the ‘Water- loo’ of U.S. foreign policy.