Monroe Doctrine

The Monroe Doctrine is a cornerstone of the United States foreign policy, laid down on 2 December 1823 by President James Monroe in his annual message to Congress.

He declared that the Old World and New World had different systems and values 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;
• (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.

History has exposed all this double-talk of the United States. It may have reduced European interventions in the western hemisphere during the "Age of Imperialism", possibly also contributing to American non-interventionism, although it did not prevent American intervention in Europe in WWI and WWII and thereafter in their military occupations in Europe and through their proxy military force. NATO.

There are various criticisms, such as in effect being a declaration that the western sphere was part of a US imperial sphere of interest, where the United States itself, in reality, was not excluded from making interventions.

One example of invoking it was during the Spanish–American War, although one effect was Spanish colonialism being replaced with American colonialism.

The Monroe Doctrine is sometimes still invoked, ignoring the part of it stating that the USA should not be involved in Europe.

The United States refuses, on the other hand, to recognise historic Russian spheres of interest in Europe. Basically one rule for the Americans and another for everyone else.

See also

• Spanish–American War

External links

Encyclopedias

• Encyclopedia Britannica: Monroe Doctrine
• Encyclopedia Britannica 1911 Edition: Monroe Doctrine
• Encyclopedia.com: Monroe Doctrine