Back to the video list: North American History
The Monroe Doctrine was a major guideline for U.S. foreign policies over nearly two centuries. It all started with the address of the nation held by President Monroe in 1823.
Video
Overview
- Date: 02 Dec 1823
- Location: Washington, USA
- Event: State of the Union Address
Parties & Persons Involved
- James Monroe (1758 – 1831), U.S. President
- John Quincy Adams (1767 – 1848), U.S. Secretary of State
Historical Context– USA
- 1803: Louisiana Purchase (& British cession) – USA gain territory west of the Mississippi from France
- 1812 – 1815: British-American War – USA fail to conquer Canada
- 1819: Adams-Onis Treaty – USA gain Florida from Spain
- Politically unstable phase & extensive territorial gains for the USA
- 1817 – 1825: Presidency of Monroe is seen as the “Era of Good Feelings“ with societal settlement & economic growth
Historical Context– International Situation
- 1809 – 1825: Spanish colonies in Latin America gain independence & become republics
- 1814: Congress of Vienna – Restoration of the absolutistic regimes in Europe
- Threat that Spain will retake her colonies with support from other European powers
- Aug – Sep 1823: Because of economic interests the British foreign minister Cannings proposes a British-U.S. declaration which strengthens the independence of the South American republics
- The USA do not want to be a British sidekick & issue their own declaration
- 02 Dec 1823: President Monroe declares the Monroe Doctrine during the State of the Nation Address
Monroe Doctrine
Content
- The USA will not interfere with politics in Europe or in the existing colonies
- No further (re-) colonialisation & interference in the Americas by European powers – otherwise the USA will intervene
Reasons for the Monroe Doctrine
- Economic reasons: Improving the trade relations to Latin America
- Territorial reasons: Securing the territorial expansion by issuing an independent declaration
- Security reasons: Preventing European powers to become competition in the Americas (again)
- Ideological reasons: Supporting the republican movements
- Individual reasons: Adams needs to make a name for himself (next U.S. President)
Monroe Doctrine – Further Developments
- Until the end of the 19th century: Isolationist & defensive understanding to prevent European interferences in the Americas
- 1904: Roosevelt Corollary – sole right of the USA to intervene in the Americas being the regional hegemon
- Mar 1947: Truman Doctrine – “it must be the policy of the United States to support free people who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures“
- Nov 2013: U.S. Secretary of State Kerry says the Monroe Doctrine is “dead“
Consequences & Impact
- The Monroe Doctrine is a central guideline of U.S. policy but is differently interpreted
- Further development of the Monroe Doctrine:
- Isolationist position (19th century)
- Interventionist position with an American reach (1st half of the 20th century)
- Interventionist position with a global reach (2nd half of the 20th century)
- The British support of the Monroe Doctrine is an essential basis for the Special Relationship