The Momentous and Influential Role and Affiliations of Standard Oil in the Mexican Revolution

Abstract

An integration of political, economic, and diplomatic historiography reveals that relationships between the U.S. government and U.S. based multinational corporations significantly impacted Mexico?s economic and political fates during the Mexican Revolution. Multinational forces were jockeying for control of M?xico?s national resources and its geopolitical importance by shifting support among the revolutionary and counterrevolutionary Mexican factions. This case study focuses primarily on the momentous role and influence of the multinational Standard Oil Company headed by John D. Rockefeller, its subsidiaries and/or interests including, but not limited to Continental Oil, Waters-Pierce, and the Mexican Petroleum Company, headed by Edward L. Doheny, throughout the Mexican Revolution. Substantial evidence from primary sources including the New York Times and diplomatic correspondent letters establish ties between Standard Oil and ?separate corporations? used as buffers to veil their first hand involvement in the internal affairs of a sovereign country, Mexico. Standard Oil and all subsidiaries, interests, and agents radically altered the fate of the Mexican Revolution through use of their powerful economic and political influence to exploit Mexican revolutionary and counterrevolutionary leaders while successfully coercing the United States government to intervene through the invasion of Veracruz in 1914. The invasion of Mexico by the United States military resulted in the solidification of Standard Oil?s lands and oil concessions.