The United States occupation of Veracruz began with the Battle of Veracruz and lasted for seven months. The incident came in the midst of poor diplomatic relations between Mexico and the United States, and was related to the ongoing Mexican Revolution.
American ships at Veracruz, USS Mayflower in foreground.
A 3″/50 gun bombarding Veracruz
The senior officers of the 1st Marine Brigade photographed at Veracruz in 1914: Front row, left to right: Lt. Col. Wendell C. Neville; Col. John A. Lejeune; Col. Littleton W. T. Waller, Commanding; and Maj. Smedley Butler.
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