Marine Corps League Banana Wars Exhibit Moved From The Delaware County Historical Society And Research Museum. It Is Now Located At The Springfield Township Library

In the period of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the United States regularly intervened militarily in the affairs of Latin American countries to protect its interests, particularly the commercial interests of the American business community. After President Teddy Roosevelt’s “Roosevelt Corollary of 1904”, whenever the United States felt its debts were not being repaid in a prompt fashion, or its citizens’ business interests were being threatened, or its access to natural interests were being impeded, military intervention or threats were often used to coerce the respective governments into compliance. This made many Latin Americans wary of U.S. presence in their region and subsequently they grew hostile to the United States.

The U.S. Marines were the principal military group sent by our government to enforce businesses interests.

To further educate on the Banana Wars, the General Smedley D. Butler Detachment, Marine Corps League, prepared an exhibit on the Banana Wars to place in local museums and libraries. It is now at the Springfield Township Library, 30 Powell Road, Springfield until the end of June. Standing in front of the exhibit is Sarah Kennedy, the library assistant at the Springfield Library.

The exhibit will be displayed next at the Newtown Square Historical Society beginning at the end of July.

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