Important The Monroe Doctrine example essay topic

The Monroe Doctrine, issued by President James Monroe in 1823 became the cornerstone of foreign policy. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams was afraid the British proposal for joint protection of the revolutionary countries was an attempt to head off future acquirement by the United States of any territory still held by Spain, especially the island of Cuba. He urged that the United States act alone in the Western Hemisphere. This argument was part of what was later called the Monroe Doctrine.

The doctrine grew out of two diplomatic problems. The first was the small conflict with Russia pertaining to the northwest coast of North America. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams said that American continents were not to be considered as a foundation for colonization by European powers. The more important part of the doctrine was because of fear that the group of European governments commonly called the Holy Alliance would try to reduce again to colonial status that the Latin American states that had recently gained independence from Spain. Monroe's main reasons for drafting the doctrine were the constant threat of European colonization in America.

The doctrine declared that European nations are not to settle new colonies or interfere with existing ones in the Western Hemisphere. Part of the reason for this is that the U.S. did not want to confront European colonies in its attempt to expand across the continent to fulfill "Manifest Destiny". The Manifest Destiny was a belief held by many Americans in the 1840's that the United States was destined to expand across the continent, by force, as used against Native Americans, if necessary. Another reason is that the U.S. felt that it should be able to influence the new Latin American republics that had recently become independent. Secondly, in interference of that kind will be seen as an act of war, and the U.S. will fight.

Finally, in exchange for staying out of their business, the U.S. will stay out of theirs. It said that it would be unacceptable for European powers to create new colonies in North, Central, or Latin America. Under President Grant and his successors, the doctrine was expanded. The belief that no territory in the Western Hemisphere could be transferred from one European power to another became part of the Monroe Doctrine. As U.S. imperialistic developments grew, the Monroe Doctrine came to be associated not only with the elimination of European powers from the Americas, but also with the possible extension of U.S. control in the area. This is why the doctrine, although it was not properly used to justify American intervention, was disliked by Latin American nations.

Another example of expansion was in 1895, President Cleveland, in an addition of the Monroe Doctrine, demanded that Great Britain negotiate a boundary dispute between British Guiana and Venezuela. Another famous addition to the original doctrine is the Roosevelt Corollary. This extension was added when incidents of turmoil and rebellion between countries in Latin America were reported. The corollary stated that if the conflict continued it would force the United States to intervene in order to prevent European intervention.

Another example of the extended existence of Monroe's doctrine occurred in 1941. Congress met on April 11 and declared a joint resolution verifying the principles of the Monroe Doctrine. This shows how important the Monroe Doctrine has been in American foreign policy. The Monroe Doctrine was so established in U.S. foreign policy by the end of World War I that Woodrow Wilson asked for a special exception for it in the Covenant of the League of Nations in 1919. By the end of the next decade, the doctrine had become much less important, and they tried to make better interactions with Latin America.

Monroe's fear of intervention and by writing the doctrine showed his desire to protect the United States freedom and interests. He was able to see the threat that Europe could cause to our national security. The Monroe Doctrine not only showed us how great of a president he was but also helped our country.