Did James Monroe Challenge the European Powers?
December of 1823, James Monroe delivered his annual message to the United States Congress, the prelude to the State of the Union held in the present day. In this speech he set the policy that still resonates today in dealing with foreign powers, the Monroe Doctrine. President Monroe informed the nation and the world that the United States would not tolerate the European Powers, i.e., Great Britain and France, interference in the Western Hemisphere. This bold speech placed America on a path of protector that it still tries to fill today.
Monroe’s message contained three main points outlining the new role of the United States as defender of the Western Hemisphere. First, he announced to …show more content…
They were ambivalent or scoffed at it, but never threatened by Monroe’s speech to Congress, seeing that America lacked to means to enforce this policy. Monroe’s speech was a major policy statement that has been used and alluded to for the past 100 years, also abused and stretched from its original meanings. Yes, Monroe threw down the gauntlet to the powers of his day to ensure American sovereignty and autonomy in the Western Hemisphere, but without the means of enforcement.
Monroe’s bold message offered no immediate threat to such nations as Great Britain and France because in 1823 the United States lacked the power to enforce its self-proclaimed role as protector of the Western Hemisphere. Fortunately for the United States, however, Great Britain desired just such a policy as Monroe suggested. The British Royal Navy, not Monroe’s declaration, would maintain the independence of Latin America. It would not be until 1852 that anyone referred to Monroe’s declaration as the Monroe Doctrine, and it was not until the twentieth century that the United States was powerful enough to enforce international acceptance of the Monroe Doctrine. (Culbert,
December of 1823, James Monroe delivered his annual message to the United States Congress, the prelude to the State of the Union held in the present day. In this speech he set the policy that still resonates today in dealing with foreign powers, the Monroe Doctrine. President Monroe informed the nation and the world that the United States would not tolerate the European Powers, i.e., Great Britain and France, interference in the Western Hemisphere. This bold speech placed America on a path of protector that it still tries to fill today.
Monroe’s message contained three main points outlining the new role of the United States as defender of the Western Hemisphere. First, he announced to …show more content…
They were ambivalent or scoffed at it, but never threatened by Monroe’s speech to Congress, seeing that America lacked to means to enforce this policy. Monroe’s speech was a major policy statement that has been used and alluded to for the past 100 years, also abused and stretched from its original meanings. Yes, Monroe threw down the gauntlet to the powers of his day to ensure American sovereignty and autonomy in the Western Hemisphere, but without the means of enforcement.
Monroe’s bold message offered no immediate threat to such nations as Great Britain and France because in 1823 the United States lacked the power to enforce its self-proclaimed role as protector of the Western Hemisphere. Fortunately for the United States, however, Great Britain desired just such a policy as Monroe suggested. The British Royal Navy, not Monroe’s declaration, would maintain the independence of Latin America. It would not be until 1852 that anyone referred to Monroe’s declaration as the Monroe Doctrine, and it was not until the twentieth century that the United States was powerful enough to enforce international acceptance of the Monroe Doctrine. (Culbert,