The emergence of markets abroad put Americans to work, but it distorted the economies of poor countries in ways that greatly increased their poverty. As American companies accumulated vast sugar and fruit plantations in the Pacific, Central America, and the Caribbean, they forced countless small farmers off their land. Many became contract laborers who worked only when Americans needed them, and naturally came to resent the United States. At the same time, American companies flooded these countries with manufactured goods, preventing the development of local industry.
The expansion of American markets internationally provided jobs for many Americans but had detrimental effects on poorer nations, exacerbating their economic struggles. As U.S. corporations established extensive sugar and fruit plantations in regions like the Pacific, Central America, and the Caribbean, they displaced numerous small farmers. Many of these displaced individuals became contract laborers, a situation that fostered resentment towards the United States due to their precarious employment conditions.
Additionally, the influx of American manufactured goods into these markets stifled the growth of local industries, further entrenching poverty and economic reliance. This one-sided economic dynamic highlighted the exploitative nature of U.S. involvement in these countries, ultimately hindering their development and fueling dissatisfaction among the local populations.
