The Monroe DoctrineUnit 5: US on the World Stage

James Monroe• Born in Virginia in 1758, • Attended the College of William and

Mary, • Fought with Continental Army• Practiced law in Virginia.• Elected United States Senator• Helped negotiate the Louisiana

Purchase. • Elected President in 1816 and served

from 1817 to 1825.

•New Latin American countries were formed from successful

revolutions.

•US protector of new democracies in the Western

Hemisphere

The Monroe Doctrine• Monroe was responding to the threat that Europe might try to

aid Spain in winning back her former Latin American colonies.

• Monroe and Secretary of State John Quincy Adams wanted to protect new “republics” in the Western Hemisphere.

• he also warned Russia must not encroach (intrude) southward on the Pacific coast.

The Monroe Doctrine

• Referred to as America’s Self Defense Doctrine.

• It is a continuation of President Washington’s neutrality and isolationist policies.

• Past problems with Europe led the US to declare the Americas off-limits to Europe

- To keep Russia from moving south into the U.S. from Alaska.

Monroe Doctrine

· North and South America should no longer be thought of as areas for European colonization.

· The U.S. would not interfere with European affairs, and European countries should not interfere with the affairs of any nation in the Western Hemisphere.

GOALS:

- To protect the independence of new Latin American nations.

Western Hemisphere is now closed to further European

Colonization

Any attempts to colonize in the Western Hemisphere by Europe would be viewed unfavorably by

the United States.

There would be no interference with existing colonies

U. S. would stay out of European affairs.

Monroe Doctrine