Throughout history and even today, the United States continues to be a key power in world affairs. This was not the case during the early days of the United States’ construction when the country was establishing its foundation of government and organizing the country’s policies and procedures. One of the many documents written for this purpose was the Monroe Doctrine. This lesser-known document paved the way for the current foreign policy that we have today. However, our current policy has changed drastically from the original document as the United States has grown in world power. This document has played an important part in our country’s history and has had an influence on our country today. The Monroe Doctrine not only set up a foundation …show more content…
The Monroe Doctrine was an important document that set a foundation to foreign policy in the United States as we know it today. The doctrine was written in 1823 by James Monroe, who was president at the time, and John Quincy Adams, the secretary of state (Milestone: 1801-1829: Monroe Doctrine, 1823). Monroe wanted a distinction between the Old World of Europe and the New World in the Americas to be placed in a formal document which he “based on the assumption that (the two) formed separate political and diplomatic systems” (Foner 361). He believed that “the Old World and New World had different systems and must remain in distinct spheres (Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). While John Quincy Adams favored a more dominant “economic role” for the US in the world (Foner 361). The document had three core proclamations that made it so important. The first statement made in the document said that “The US would not tolerate further colonization or puppet monarchs” by countries in Europe looking to gain resources and power in the Americas (Monroe Doctrine (1823)). This bold statement showed that the US was a growing power in the world and would not stand for mass “European expansion in the Western Hemisphere” (Monroe …show more content…
Europe, a major power during this time period, was looking to expand not only in the many settled areas but also in the unsettled parts of the Americas as well. This included “France, which had designs on Cuba, and Russia, which was seeking to expand its holdings on the Pacific coast” (Foner 361). This called the US to action with establishing the Monroe Doctrine. Also, with the US recently gaining independence from Britain during this time and wanting to expand their influence of trade and commerce in the region, the US wanted a “clear break between the New World and the autocratic realm of Europe” (Milestones: 1801-1829: Monroe Doctrine 1823). Along with trade, the US had plans of westward expansion and did not want countries in Europe to gain control of those regions. With the Monroe Doctrine in place “by the mid-1800’s the doctrine along with Manifest Destiny helped in US expansion westward” (Milestones: 1801-1829: Monroe Doctrine 1823). This action advanced the US territory further west and pushed for economic growth of the nation, both ideals promoted by Monroe and