Monroe Doctrine | History, Summary, & Significance (2024)

American history

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Why was the Monroe Doctrine important?

Although initially disregarded by the great powers of Europe, the Monroe Doctrine became a mainstay of U.S. foreign policy. In 1823 U.S. President James Monroe proclaimed the U.S. protector of the Western Hemisphere by forbidding European powers from colonizing additional territories in the Americas. In return, Monroe committed to not interfere in the affairs, conflicts, and extant colonial enterprises of European states. Although initially a hands-off approach to foreign policy, the Monroe Doctrine—and the 1904 Roosevelt Corollary, which supplemented it—laid the groundwork for U.S. expansionist and interventionist practices in the decades to come.

United States: An age of reformRead more about U.S. expansionism.

What were the basic tenets of the Monroe Doctrine?

As articulated in 1823, the Monroe Doctrine laid out four basic tenets that would define U.S. foreign policy for decades. The first two promised that the U.S. would not interfere in the affairs of European states, be they wars or internal politics, and that the U.S. would not interfere with European states’ extant colonial enterprises. In exchange, it stipulated that the Western Hemisphere was no longer open to further colonization and that any attempt on the part of a European power to colonize territory in the Western Hemisphere would be understood by the U.S. as an act of aggression.

Western colonialismRead more about European colonialism in the Americas.

What motives were behind the Monroe Doctrine?

The Monroe Doctrine was drafted because the U.S. government was worried that European powers would encroach on the U.S. sphere of influence by carving out colonial territories in the Americas. The U.S. government was particularly wary of Russia, because of its aims to extend its influence into the Oregon Territory, and of Spain and France, because of their potential designs to recolonize the Latin American territories that had recently gained independence. Although the British urged the U.S. to make a joint declaration with them, the U.S. ultimately opted for a unilateral one to avoid any hindrance to its own expansionist designs.

history of Latin America: The independence of Latin AmericaRead more about Latin American independence movements.

Who worked on the Monroe Doctrine?

George Canning, British foreign minister to the U.S., had the idea to issue a declaration forbidding future colonization in the Americas. Canning suggested that the U.S. and Britain make a joint declaration, because both nations had motives for limiting colonialism (besides their own) in the Americas. U.S. President James Monroe and former presidents James Madison and Thomas Jefferson were receptive to the idea. U.S. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams was vehemently against it, fearing that a bilateral declaration would limit the U.S.’s own expansionist designs. President Monroe eventually sided with Adams and issued a unilateral declaration.

George CanningRead more about George Canning.

How did the Monroe Doctrine change over time?

Although it forbade European powers from colonizing more American territories, the Monroe Doctrine was drafted while the U.S. did not have the military might to enforce it. That changed as the U.S. emerged as a global power. The 1904 Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine asserted the U.S. role as policeman of the Western Hemisphere and its right to involve itself in the affairs of Latin American countries. Although justified under the auspices of limiting European interference in the Americas, the Roosevelt Corollary did more to lay the groundwork for the U.S. in its own interventionist practices in the decades to come.

Monroe Doctrine, (December 2, 1823), cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy enunciated by Pres. James Monroe in his annual message to Congress. Declaring that the Old World and New World had different systems and must remain distinct spheres, Monroe made four basic points: (1) the United States would not interfere in the internal affairs of or the wars between European powers; (2) the United States recognized and would not interfere with existing colonies and dependencies in the Western Hemisphere; (3) the Western Hemisphere was closed to future colonization; and (4) any attempt by a European power to oppress or control any nation in the Western Hemisphere would be viewed as a hostile act against the United States:

In the wars of the European powers in matters relating to themselves we have never taken any part, nor does it comport with our policy so to do. It is only when our rights are invaded or seriously menaced that we resent injuries or make preparation for our defense.…

With the existing colonies or dependencies of any European power we have not interfered and shall not interfere. But with the governments who have declared their independence and maintained it, and whose independence we have, on great consideration and on just principles, acknowledged, we could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing them, or controlling in any other manner their destiny, by any European power in any other light than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States.

The origin and framing of the Monroe Doctrine

The doctrine was an outgrowth of concern in both Britain and the United States that the Continental powers would attempt to restore Spain’s former colonies, in Latin America, many of which had become newly independent nations. The United States was also concerned about Russia’s territorial ambitions in the northwest coast of North America. As a consequence, George Canning, the British foreign minister, suggested a joint U.S.-British declaration forbidding future colonization in Latin America. Monroe was initially favourable to the idea, and former presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison concurred. But Secretary of State John Quincy Adams argued that the United States should issue a statement of American policy exclusively, and his view ultimately prevailed.

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The first draft of the message included a reproof of the French for their invasion of Spain, an acknowledgment of Greek independence in the revolt against Turkey, and some further indications of American concern in European affairs. Adams argued for the better part of two days against such expressions, which were finally eliminated from the message.

Adams noted in his diary,

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The ground that I wish to take is that of earnest remonstrance against the interference of the European powers by force in South America, but to disclaim all interference on our part with Europe; to make an American cause, and adhere inflexibly to that.