America: Nationalism And Change 1818-1830 - The Monroe Doctrine 1823

The Monroe Doctrine, delivered to Congress on December 2, 1823, is a key document in American political philosophy. It declared that the American states were no longer open to colonization and emphasized the U.S. stance against European expansion in the Western Hemisphere. The doctrine was influenced by Latin American independence movements and the weakening Spanish Empire. President Monroe, with input from John Quincy Adams, aimed to prevent European powers from seizing control of newly independent Latin American nations. The doctrine also addressed concerns about Russian influence in the Pacific Northwest. Ultimately, it established the U.S. as a defender of freedom in the Americas and laid the foundation for its future foreign policy as a world power.

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