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The Doctrine stated the United States policy position that the Americas were no longer to be considered an area open to European influence or colonization.
The Doctrine stated the United States policy position that the Americas were no longer to be considered an area open to European influence or colonization.
The Monroe Doctrine (1823) warned European powers against interfering in the western hemisphere. President James Monroe warned European powers by saying that North and/or South America would not serve as subjects for colonization by Europe. In return, the United States agree to stay out of European affairs. The doctrine followed the massive rise of independent nations in South America, including Peru, Bolivia, and Cuba. The Monroe Doctrine was considered a defining moment in US foreign policy.
Monroe said that the Americans Were Closed to Further Colonization. He also warned that European efforts to reestablish Colonies would be considered Dangerous to our peace and Safety. Finally, he promised that the U.S Would stay out of European Affairs. The Monroe Doctrine showed that the U.S Saw Itself as a world power and protector of Latin America.
The Monroe Doctrine was named after the President that delivered the message to Congress in 1823, but the Doctrine was the brain child of Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. Basically, the Doctrine warned that the United States was no longer to be considered an area open to European influence or colonization. The US promised not to interfere in the affairs of Europe and Europe would respect that fact that the Western Hemisphere was closed to colonization and influence by any other power than the US. Two developments convinced Adams that such a Doctrine was necessary. First, the expanded Russian exploration and fur trapping south of Alaska, which had been Russian territory since 1741. The Russians built Fort Ross close to Spanish San Francisco and the Czar in 1821 ordered foreign ships to stay 100 miles clear of Russian-American shores. The second, yet more important problem Adams saw, was the chance that Austria and France would send troops to the Western Hemisphere to help Spain regain her lost colonies in South America. Adams realized that the US could not enforce the provision of the Monroe Doctrine but Great Britain had previously proposed that the two nations issue a similar proclamation closing the western hemisphere to future colonization. It was in England's economic interest that the new Latin nations be allowed to trade with other nations, namely England. While this US "show of force" annoyed the British, Adams realized that the British Navy would help the US uphold the Doctrine.