Why the United States occupied Veracruz

The occupation grew out of strained US-Mexican relations and the upheaval of the Mexican Revolution. After American sailors entered a restricted area at Tampico, Woodrow Wilson demanded both an apology and a gun salute, then prepared naval action when the salute was refused. News of an arriving arms shipment helped trigger the seizure of the Veracruz customs house, although the weapons had passed through international dealers and some originated with Remington in the United States. The US force brought seven battleships, two light cruisers, and an auxiliary cruiser, and the resulting battle produced casualties on both sides. American forces then occupied the port for roughly seven months, linking naval coercion to Wilson's intervention and arms-embargo policy.