The Process of Making the Monroe Doctrine Essay

COLLAPSE The Monroe Doctrine became one of the crucial foundations of American foreign policy over the next century; what was the occasion for Monroe's articulation of this doctrine, and what were the circumstances motivating its adoption? As the Latin American colonies rebelled to create self-governing nations, the United States felt empathy towards the uprisings. With that sympathy came the Monroe administration, giving the new democracy of Latin American recognition.

The Good Neighbor Policy, suggested by the president’s commitment “to the policy of the good neighbor” in his first inaugural address on March 4, 1933, the policy marked a departure from traditional American interventionism. The United States refused to accept the privileges of Latin Americans. The United States renounced its right to unilaterally intervene in the internal affairs of other nations at the Montevideo Conference in December of 1933 the Platt Amendment, which sanctioned U.S. intervention in Cuba, was abrogated and the U.S. Marines were withdrawn from Haiti.

During Roosevelt’s time in office, he strengthened the United States’ ties to countries around the world. T.R. was a foreign-policy activist. He involved himself in the relations between the Dominican Republic and the European nations that the country owed money to. The president was afraid that European powers would start to collect their money by using force and Roosevelt didn’t want that to happen in Latin America. He asserted the United States’ power in the Western hemisphere by creating what is known as the ‘Roosevelt Corollary’ in 1904. This corollary states that “although the United States had not territorial ambitions in this hemisphere, cases of “chronic wrongdoing” on the part of a Latin American country that might invite occupation by a European

The Monroe Doctrine had a great impact due to its strict policy towards the European powers. It wanted to keep the U.S. trade safe from European powers and colonization. Without this important doctrine/document the Europeans would have most likely colonized, interfered with, and disrupted the western hemisphere and also the trade systems connected with them. The U.S. also would not be a balanced nation and have a balanced foreign policy without the Monroe Doctrine, which was also known as the back bone of the U.S. foreign policy.

On December 18, 1823, the Monroe Doctrine was issued by President James Monroe in his message to Congress. Although written by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, he decided to name it after the President. The Monroe Doctrine was written as a result of George Canning's offer to jointly protect Latin America with the UK, which we blatantly denied. Global issues such as the French Revolution, War of 1812 and the Mexican Independence Revolution all contributed to the making of the Monroe Doctrine by reminding us of George Washington's warning against making any permanent alliances or agreements with any foreign country.

The Banana Wars began with injustices, corruption, lawless societies and labor abuse in Latin America. Banana workers began what was comparable to a civil rights movement in the tropical fruit trade. Warring tropical countries stemmed from maltreatment [clarification needed] and abusive working conditions gave rise to one of the earliest and most militant labor movements in early Latin America. The discourse and corruption facing Latin American people and governments is what prompted the United States influence.[clarification needed]

James Monroe was born in the quiet town of Westmoreland County, Virginia on April 28, 1758. His father, Spencer Monroe, was married to Elizabeth Jones in 1752. Spencer Monroe was a circuit judge and a farmer for the town (Kane 40). Monroe was the oldest of five. There were four other children; Andrew, Joseph, and Elizabeth. His third brother had died in his early childhood. He attended grammar school at a small academy for boys. This school had a reputation for serving the best of men, like George Washington and John Marshall (Kane 40), which is unique because he later followed George Washington as president. George Washington was a family friend of the Monroe’s. He admired Washington and was influenced by him at a young age. At age 16

After World War I came to an end, American citizens predominantly desired to maintain a laissez faire, or “hands-off”, tactic in regards to foreign politics, especially as the possibility of a second world war loomed in the air with rising tensions overseas. For the sake of the United States, Congress heavily endorsed this neutrality and isolationism, but President Theodore Roosevelt, on the other hand, wished to be engaged in global affairs. In fact, Roosevelt took an assortment of both subtle and evident actions to mobilize the nation for war, and each action caused a reaction that would affect the relationship between business and government (Berkin 638).

The Monroe Doctrine was clearly a sign of advance of the United States, but it also a sign of nationalism because it told Europe that the U.S won't help them in their war with France, said that Europe could not be able to colonize other American regions and explored the lands that Europe was supposed to colonize. Firstly, because Europe was a strong nation at that time, it often entered into conflicts with other nations, but when Europe asked for help to the U.S, they disagreed, making them angry, but unable to challenge them to a battle because Europe was already sending an army to France. That’s why avoiding to help Europe , the U.S increased the nationalism. Secondly, Europe was one of the greatest union of nations in that time, it controlled

During the early year of the nineteenth century, aside from Mexico, almost every other important colony in Latin America gained independence from its Mother country in Europe. However, as this occurred, certain powerful monarchies in Europe threatened to stamp out representative governments if they developed in the old colonies. That was the reason that in 1823, President James Monroe issued his now-famous policy statement called The Monroe Doctrine. In it, Monroe warned the European power that he would considered any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety. In other words, the Monroe Doctrine warned the European monarchies that they could expect a strong response from

The economy was expanding and the US became more interested in the well being of surrounding economies. The Dominican Republic was in debt to various European nations at this time. They were having problems paying their debts and chose to stop paying them. In response to this issue, President Theodore Roosevelt formulated an extension to the Monroe Doctrine. The Roosevelt Corollary, as it became to be known, gave the US the power to intervene with European powers coming west in an attempt to collect debts.2 The fear was that Europe, in an attempt to collect debts, would occupy and control the country in debt. With the Panama Canal on the scope, this would hinder economic stimulus in the US. President Roosevelt’s beliefs are best captured in the Corollary when he stated:

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the United States was the most dominant power in the Western Hemisphere. European nations conceded to the United States their right of any intervention in the Western Hemisphere and allowed the United States to do whatever they wanted. The United States took this newly bestowed power and abused it. The United States intervened in many Latin American countries and imposed their policies on to these countries against their will. A perfect example of this aggression is what occurred in the Dominican Republic in 1904. The United States intervened in this sovereign nation and took control of their economy and custom houses. A memorandum from Francis B. Loomis, the United States Assistant

“Speak softly and carry a big stick,” this was the slogan that president Theodore Roosevelt Used to describe the Big Stick policy. This sentence led to the foreign policy that Roosevelt deployed during his presidency hence the name “Big Stick” Policy. This policy meant that the U.S. should be fair in its dealings with other countries but must always be ready to protect its own interests or in other word negotiating peacefully while simultaneously threatening with the “big stick”, or the military.

Have you ever felt it would be unwise to become involved in another person’s predicaments? Enunciated by the president, James Monroe, were the guidelines regarding America’s foreign policy known as The Monroe Doctrine. Within this document, James Monroe specifically mandated the United States be neutral concerning European conflicts among his other crucial points. However, many foreign countries ignored his directive. Henceforth, the United States still debates over whether it should still comply with (advocate?) this policy, or continue assisting European countries in detrimental situations. Overall, I believe since the U.S. has advanced quite a bit since then, it would be unrealistic for it to abstain from foreign country affairs. Furthermore,

Its beginnings were rooted in isolationist ideas with the US wanting to eliminate Europe’s intervention and expansion in the US and the Latin American countries in the Western Hemisphere as well as wanting to keep out of European wars. We then see how future presidents, such as Theodore Roosevelt, used the doctrine to step into many Latin American countries to prevent conflicts with Europe and to further America’s influence and power in the region. Also, we see how the struggles in Europe and the prospect of war enticed presidents such as Truman to undermine the doctrine and step into European wars and affairs that the doctrine clearly opposed. Overall, the Monroe Doctrine was an important part of US history which helped to shape our nation in the world and to lay the building blocks of our nation’s foreign policies into what it is