August 09, 2021
The Banana Wars E74 Butler's Baptism: The 1912 Intervention in Nicaragua
This episode tracks the deepening U.S. military involvement in Nicaragua during the early 20th century. What started as a limited response to protect American property evolved into a full-scale intervention. Under officers like Smedley Butler and Joseph Pendleton, Marines carried out combat operations, secured key infrastructure, and enforced U.S. foreign policy with both force and diplomacy.
From retaking towns and railroads to battling entrenched rebels at Coyotepe Hill and beyond, the Marines showcased their rapid deployment and operational flexibility. Political corruption, civil unrest, and deep resentment toward U.S. influence continued to fuel revolution. As Nicaragua spiraled into deeper conflict, the U.S. increased its military presence, eventually committing thousands of troops, naval support, and air power.
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References
- Butler, S. D. (2021). War Is a Racket (1st ed.). Round Table Press.
- Ellsworth, H. A. (2014). One Hundred Eighty Landings of United States Marines, 1800–1934. Createspace Independent Pub.
- Executive Order No. 969, Defining the Duties of the United States Marine Corps, 12 November 1908.
- Executive Order No. 989, Marine Corps Officers’ Physical Fitness, 9 December 1908.
- Goldsborough, C. W. (1824). The United States Naval Chronicle. Washington: James Wilson.
- Logsheet of Historic Marine Corps Dates, Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.
- Knox, D. W. (1936). A History of the United States Navy. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons.
- Maclay, E. S. (2018). A History of American Privateers. Franklin Classics.
- N. (2021). THE USMC SMALL WARS MANUAL 1940. Nafziger.
- Nalty, B. C. (2013). The United States Marines In The War with Spain. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
- Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of Cuba Embodying the Provisions Defining Their Future Relations as Contained in the Act of Congress Approved March 2, 1901, signed 05/22/1903; General Records of the United States Government, 1778 - 2006, RG 11, National Archives.
- U.S. Department of State. Right to Protect Citizens in Foreign Countries by Landing Forces, Memorandum of the Solicitor, 5 October 1912, Third Revised Edition with Supplemental Appendix up to 1933. Washington, 1934.
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