LAD #10: Monroe Doctrine

A cartoon portraying Uncle Sam standing protectively over the Western hemisphere with the Monroe Doctrine

1. What did the issuing of the Monroe Doctrine express from an American perspective post War of 1812?
It showed their confidence, almost arrogance, after the War of 1812, when nationalism was high in America after not-losing the war. They wanted the U.S. to be recognized as an independent and strong country. At the same time, they didn't want European countries to continue to expand into central and South America. The peoples in that area had recently won their independence from Europe, and America, who supported their ideas, wanted them to keep it because of their more Republican views.

2. What was Secretary of State Adams' hope when he wrote the Monroe Doctrine?
He wanted to keep the Americas from falling under European control again, after they had already declared their independence. He didn't want to mix the Old and New Worlds' political ideas. One line in the doctrine was, "the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers..." showing his hope for the Americas to break completely with the Old World.

3. "Our policy in regard to Europe... is, not to interfere in the internal concerns of any of its powers; to consider the government de facto as the legitimate government for us; to cultivate friendly relations with it, and to preserve those relations by a frank, firm, and manly policy, meeting in all instances the just claims of every power, submitting to injuries from none." This sentence shows the desire of Americans to remain neutral and untangled from European politics and to try to maintain a good relationship with those countries while not tolerating any rights violations.