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THE BANANA WARS OF THE AMERICAS
The Forgotten Empire Built on Fruit
At the turn of the 20th century, bananas became one of the most valuable commodities on Earth.
But behind the cheap fruit was a shadow war — one that reshaped entire nations.
From 1898 to 1934, the United States repeatedly intervened in Central America and the Caribbean in what history now calls The Banana Wars.
The goal wasn’t freedom.
It was profit.
American corporations — most famously United Fruit Company — controlled vast plantations in countries like Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Haiti, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. These companies owned railroads, ports, and even governments.
When strikes broke out…
When elections threatened corporate interests…
When leaders tried to reclaim land…
U.S. Marines arrived.
In Honduras, U.S. troops landed repeatedly to protect banana plantations during labor uprisings.
In Nicaragua, Marines occupied the country for over a decade, fighting local resistance and installing friendly governments.
In Haiti, the U.S. rewrote the constitution — allowing foreign ownership of land for the first time in history.
Resistance leaders emerged.
One of the most famous, Augusto César Sandino, led guerrilla fighters against U.S. forces. He was later assassinated after peace talks.
The wars didn’t officially end until 1934, but the damage was permanent.
Entire economies were reshaped to serve a single export.
Local democracy was replaced by foreign-backed strongmen.
And the term “banana republic” was born — a nation rich in resources, but ruled for outsiders.
The bananas stayed cheap.
The companies grew massive.
And the consequences still echo today.
Because the Banana Wars weren’t just about fruit.
They were about who controls a nation —
and how far power will go to protect profit.