The Monroe Doctrine

2077 Words5 Pages

The Monroe Doctrine “Our country may be likened to a new house. We lack many things, but we possess the most precious of all - liberty!” James Monroe. James Monroe was the 5th President of the United States of America, in office from 1817 to 1825. He was also the last founding father to hold the presidential office. December 1823 was a defining moment in his political career, he announced a foreign policy statement, later called the Monroe Doctrine which was a risky proclamation and at first largely ignored, but gradually became the solid foundation which other presidents built their foreign policy agendas upon. Looking back the Monroe Doctrine was not a particularly intelligent move considering America’s armed forces situation; they were simply betting on their fickle allies, Great Britain, as backup in case anything went wrong. These bold assertions by James Monroe greatly influenced the path of colonization in America and how other viewed the United States of America as an international force. Leading up to late 1823 the European sector of the world was ever changing; countries were constantly trying to conquer new lands in order to improve their standings within the world. The Monroe Doctrine was ultimately believed to be inspired by the Napoleonic Wars, which was a series of wars between Napoleon's French Army and Great Britain. On a global scale the United States government was nervous regarding the Congress of Vienna. The Congress of Vienna was a meeting of European ambassadors held in Vienna, Austria. They were attempting to establish peace in throughout Europe by settling issues left over from the Napoleonic War and French Revolution. As the Napoleonic War ended, France came to an agreement with Spain to aid them in r... ... middle of paper ... .... The constantly changing international world and tensions arising from intense wars called for America to make a stand if they wanted to be a powerful nation one day. The actual speech was interpreted differently throughout the years it was in use, and had to adapt to the times to stay relevant. America’s special relationship with Great Britain was necessary for this document, without it the doctrine would have been a sure failure. After a significant amount of time, other countries took notice and their reactions varied from great gratitude to total indifference. The Monroe Doctrine truly was a foundation, other famous politicians have added numerous additions to enhance it. Although it’s use is being questioned in the 21st century the Doctrine will always be remembered as a crucial piece in aiding the expansion and strengthening of the United States of America.

Open Document