The Tampico Affair began as a minor incident involving United States Navy sailors and the Mexican Federal Army loyal to Mexican dictator General Victoriano Huerta. On April 9, 1914, nine sailors had come ashore to secure supplies and were detained by Mexican forces. Commanding Admiral Henry Mayo demanded that the US sailors be released, Mexico issue an apology, and raise and salute the US flag along with a 21 gun salute. Mexico refused the demand. US President Woodrow Wilson backed the admiral's demand. Mexicans of all factions of the Mexican Revolution united against the US demands. The conflict escalated when the Americans took the port city of Veracruz, occupying it for more than six months. This contributed to the fall of Huerta, who resigned in July 1914. Since the US did not have diplomatic relations with Mexico following Huerta's seizure of power in 1913, the ABC Powers offered to mediate the conflict, in the Niagara Falls peace conference, held in Canada. The American occupation of Veracruz resulted in widespread anti-American sentiment.
US battleships steaming toward Veracruz following the Tampico Affair. Inset: Appearing in the photograph (left to right): Rear Admiral Henry T. Mayo, Commander of US forces during the Tampico Affair; Rear Admiral Frank F. Fletcher, who commanded the landing to seize Veracruz; Vice Admiral Charles J. Badger, Commander of US Atlantic Fleet in 1914.
President Woodrow Wilson addresses a Joint Session of Congress April 20, 1914
USS Truxtun and Whipple at Mazatlan, April 26, 1914, keeping watch on Mexican gunboat Morales (two-funnel ship in background)
Nelson O'Shaughnessy, the American Chargé d'Affaires ad interim in 1914
José Victoriano Huerta Márquez was a general in the Mexican Federal Army and 39th President of Mexico, who came to power by coup against the democratically elected government of Francisco I. Madero with the aid of other Mexican generals and the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. His violent seizure of power set off a new wave of armed conflict in the Mexican Revolution.
Portrait, c. 1912
Victoriano Huerta (1850–1916), Mexican dictator (1913–1914)
General Huerta (left) with Emilio Madero, Pres. Madero's brother, and Pancho Villa, 1912.
Victoriano Huerta and his cabinet