Veracruz incident

Veracruz incident

(1914) Occupation of Veracruz, Mex., by U.S. marines. In April 1914, after the crew of a U.S. ship that had anchored in Tampico was briefly detained for landing in a forbidden area, Pres. Woodrow Wilson demanded an apology from the Mexican government. When Mexican president Victoriano Huerta refused, Wilson sent a fleet to the Gulf of Mexico. After learning of an arms shipment to Huerta from Germany, Wilson ordered the port of Veracruz seized. By July the invasion had caused 200 Mexican casualties and had enabled the rival Constitutionalists under Venustiano Carranza (who had denounced the seizure by the U.S.) to take over the government. Huerta was forced into exile, and the U.S. marines were withdrawn on November 14.