The Monroe Doctrine In The Early 19th Century

Rebecca Scholder 3/5/24 Mr. Burnett APUSH On December 2, 1823, President James Monroe sent his seventh annual message to Congress. Included in this announcement was the Monroe Doctrine, asserting the limits of any further European colonization. In the early 19th century, the fallout of the Napoleonic Wars left European powers in disarray. With a power vacuum created, Spain and Portugal focused on reclaiming their former colonies in North America. Simultaneously, fueled by Enlightenment ideals and disaffection for colonial rule, Latin America was inspired by a movement of independence. The Monroe Doctrine established the United States as a powerful force in the Americas while also providing a warning for further colonization efforts. Preventing
The intention was that conflicts between the United States and Europe would cease or decrease, leaving the U.S. to establish its American influence in peace. "We owe it, therefore, to candor and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those powers to declare that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety" (Monroe Doctrine, 1823). Asserting itself as a force to be reckoned with, the United States voices complete dissent against European interference. While Europe believed it had authority over the Americas, the United States used the power of the Monroe Doctrine to safeguard and establish itself as a leader of the Western Hemisphere. Immediate responses to the doctrine were safety for the individual power of Latin American nations and the creation of a United States reputation for the protection of its hemisphere. Providing a standard for U.S. involvement in foreign affairs, the Monroe Doctrine became an invaluable American document. Later responses included military intervention, diplomatic initiatives, and economic