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• The Monroe Doctrine is the title given to a position taken by President James Monroe in 1823 when he asserted that the United States would not tolerate the interference of any other country in the affairs of the Americas.

• Fast Facts

  1. Proclaimed: 1823
  2. England had wanted it to be a joint statementGlobalSecurity.org: Monroe Doctrine
  3. Was not referred to as the "Monroe Doctrine" until the 1850sEncyclopedia of American Studies: Monroe Doctrine
  4. Roosevelt Corollary: "Speak softly and carry a big stick"Mr. Windle's Blog: Big Stick Diplomacy (February 20, 2008)

• Backstory

  At the time, Russia was expanding activities in the Northwest Territories, Spain was eyeing newly independent countries in South America, and France had not given up its colonial aspirations. England suggested to the United States that the two countries join together in opposition to Spain's involvement in South America. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison urged Monroe to accept England's proposal, but John Quincy Adams didn't trust the British.GlobalSecurity.org: Monroe Doctrine Monroe elected to assert that the United States, acting alone, would challenge any foreign intervention in the affairs of the Americas, creating what would eventually become known as the Monroe Doctrine.Encyclopedia of American Studies: Monroe Doctrine

• Key Points

  1. European countries cannot found any new colonies in the Americas
  2. U.S. would only intervene in European affairs if her own interests were at risk
  3. Any European intervention in the Americas would be considered a threat to U.S. national security

• Roosevelt Corollary

  In 1904, the Dominican Republic went bankrupt. Theodore Roosevelt was concerned that its European creditors might intervene to collect their debts.Mr. Windle's Blog: Big Stick Diplomacy (February 20, 2008) In a message to Congress, Roosevelt stated that the United States might intervene to stabilize a situation by exercising "international police power" in "flagrant cases of such wrongdoing or impotence" which might lead to "a general loosening of the ties of civilized society."Latin American Studies: The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine This statement had the effect of raising bond prices for Latin American nations, as it gave lenders assurance that their investments would be secure.NBER: Empire, Public Goods, and the Roosevelt Corollary

• Related Mahalo Pages

  James Monroe | Spanish-American War | John Quincy Adams | Thomas Jefferson | United Kingdom | Russia | France | Argentina | Chile | Colombia | Mexico | Dominican Republic | Theodore Roosevelt | Manifest Destiny

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