Progressivism was the dominant ideological movement in the early 20th century regarding national government. Progressive policies gained more acceptance and were commonly implemented. In particular, the freedom and well-being of the common people gained importance (as opposed to the power of elites and corporations).
This points to a contradiction in how the U. S. conducted its international affairs in Latin America and the Caribbean. Freedom was not a major concern, and the U. S. government felt they were entitled to intervene if the government of these countries was not favourable to the American government or stable enough for American businesses. The U. S. often intervened and removed Latin American leaders, regardless of whether they had been democratically elected or not. This led to destabilization of the region, with consequences that can still be felt today.
