Monroe Doctrine US History. Prior to Presidency of Monroe Foreign policy of the US was neutral. –Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality (1793) –Washington’s

Monroe Doctrine

US History

Prior to Presidency of Monroe

• Foreign policy of the US was neutral.– Washington’s Proclamation of

Neutrality (1793)– Washington’s Farewell– Jefferson’s Embargo Act (1807)

• 1812 War was exception– War hawks sought expansion in

Canada.

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Embargo Act, you say?The United States’ attempt to change the policies of

the European powers by economic means.

In 1807, after the British ship Leopard fired on the American frigate CHESAPEAKE, Jefferson urged and Congress passed an EMBARGO ACT.

• It banned all American ships from foreign trade. • Result: The embargo failed to change British and

French policies but devastated New England shipping. Later and weaker economic measures were also unsuccessful.

Under Monroe

• James Monroe’s Presidency (1817-1825).– He establishes a major

foreign policy precedent that guides foreign policy throughout the 19th century:

• The Monroe Doctrine.

– How did it happen?

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

• 1823 Imperial Russia intruded on US’s Pacific territorial claims in Oregon region.– At the same time….

• Alliance of European powers (Austria, France, Prussia, Russia) sought to reclaim Latin American colonies that declared independence during the Napoleonic Wars.





Monroe Doctrine Origin

In response…• Monroe’s Secretary of State,

John Quincy Adams, urged Monroe to warn Europe– not to continue to colonize the

Western Hemisphere.– In exchange, the US would not

interfere with existing colonies– AND the US would remain

neutral in Euro affairs.



Monroe Doctrine promulgated

• Monroe outlined this foreign policy in his 1823 December message to Congress.



Did it work?• Britain backed

Monroe.– They wanted to keep

its trade with the new American republics flourishing.

– It successfully discouraged the European alliance.



George Canning, GB For Min



Could it have been enforced?

• It is unlikely that the US in the early 19th century could enforce it.– Very small navy!– Without Britain’s

help, it would not have worked.



Documents

Monroe Doctrine US History. Prior to Presidency of Monroe Foreign policy of the US was neutral. –Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality (1793) –Washington’s