Monroe Doctrine

Definition

The Monroe Doctrine was a U.S. foreign policy statement made in 1823, asserting that European powers should not interfere in the affairs of the Americas. It represented a significant shift in American policy, emphasizing the Western Hemisphere's autonomy from European colonization and influence, which laid the groundwork for future U.S. interventions and policies in Latin America and, by extension, Africa.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Monroe Doctrine was primarily a response to European colonial ambitions in Latin America during the early 19th century.
2. Although initially aimed at preventing European interference in the Americas, it eventually justified U.S. interventions in various Latin American countries under the guise of protecting sovereignty.
3. The doctrine was articulated by President James Monroe and later expanded upon by his successors, influencing U.S. foreign policy for decades.
4. In the context of Africa, the Monroe Doctrine exemplified the broader principles of exclusionary policies that Western powers employed to justify their colonial pursuits across different continents.
5. The Monroe Doctrine set a precedent for future U.S. foreign policy, signaling a commitment to oppose European expansion while simultaneously expanding U.S. influence abroad.

Review Questions

• How did the Monroe Doctrine shape U.S. foreign policy regarding European powers in relation to Latin America?
  • The Monroe Doctrine fundamentally shifted U.S. foreign policy by asserting that any European intervention in Latin America would be viewed as an act of aggression against the United States. This policy aimed to protect newly independent Latin American nations from European colonization and influence, allowing the U.S. to position itself as a dominant power in the Western Hemisphere. As a result, it laid the groundwork for subsequent American interventions throughout the region under various pretexts.
• Analyze how the Monroe Doctrine contributed to U.S. interventions in Latin America and its implications for relations with African nations during the age of imperialism.
  • The Monroe Doctrine justified U.S. interventions in Latin America by framing them as protective measures against European imperialism. This approach allowed the U.S. to exert its influence in neighboring regions while simultaneously critiquing European colonial practices. In relation to Africa, this demonstrated how Western powers often used doctrines like Monroe's to rationalize their own imperial ambitions, promoting an atmosphere where both spheres—Latin America and Africa—were subjected to colonial exploitation under different but interconnected rationales.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of the Monroe Doctrine on both Latin American and African geopolitics throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
  • The long-term impact of the Monroe Doctrine on geopolitics can be seen through its influence on both Latin American and African nations as they navigated colonial pressures and independence movements. In Latin America, it fostered a sense of sovereignty but also created a dependency on U.S. support, often leading to interventionist policies that destabilized governments. In Africa, although not directly mentioned in the doctrine, its principles resonated with colonial ideologies that justified exploitation and control over indigenous populations. This legacy contributed to ongoing tensions and challenges faced by newly independent states in both regions well into the 20th century.

Related terms

Manifest Destiny: A 19th-century doctrine that the expansion of the United States throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable.

Colonialism: The practice of acquiring control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.

Imperialism: A policy or ideology that involves extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.