What events led to the creation of the Monroe Doctrine?
The Today in History pages at the Library of Congress states that Great Britain wanted to ally with the United States to prevent Spain and France from intervening in Latin American affairs. Britain wanted this partnership with the U.S. to ensure that Spanish limitations on trade would not be reinforced. The Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams, believed that the United States should remain independent. However, the U.S. was concerned with Russia taking its west coast and the reconquest of the newly independent Latin American countries. With the fear of colonization taking place in the Americas, Monroe issued the Monroe Doctrine.
What is the Monroe Doctrine?
On December 2, 1823, Monroe stated "that the American continents...are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for the future colonization by any European powers." This U.S. foreign policy was made to keep Europeans out. The Office of the Historian website defines the policy; "separate spheres of influence for the Americas and Europe, non-colonization, and non-intervention." The U.S. would stay out of European affairs as long as they stayed out of the Western Hemisphere.
Why is this important?
Adams wanted Europe to stay out of the Western Hemisphere, so that the U.S. could trade with Latin America and improve its economy. The Monroe Doctrine and Manifest Destiny led to the expansion of the United States because it was willing to go to war to obtain new territories. Furthermore, the Monroe Doctrine is significant because it includes Roosevelt's Corollary. The National Archives and the 100 Milestone Documents state that "European creditors could not intervene to collect debts from some Latin American countries." This became known as the "Big Stick" policy because the United States would intervene in Latin American affairs to protect it from European involvement. This allowed the U.S. to have dominant control in the Western Hemisphere since it acted as the protector. This policy allowed the U.S. to act as an "international police power" that went into Central America to keep the Europeans out.
The OSU Library has many books that can be checked out on U.S. foreign policy. For example,
No Higher Law: American Foreign Policy and the Western Hemisphere since 1776 can be found in the 327's on 3rd floor and includes a chapter on the Monroe Doctrine. Current foreign policy can be followed on the U.S. Department of State’s website,
https://www.state.gov/.
What are your thoughts on the Monroe Doctrine and U.S. foreign policy?
- by Emily Hancz
What are your thoughts on the Monroe Doctrine and U.S. foreign policy?
- by Emily Hancz
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