ReBirth of a Nation
One hundred and eighty-seven years ago today, on December 2, 1823, President James Monroe introduced The Monroe Doctrine, a policy which stated that and further efforts by European countries to colonize land or interfere with states in the western hemisphere would be viewed, by the United States as acts of aggression. The Monroe Doctrine decreed that the western hemisphere was not to be further colonized by European countries. In return, the United States would not interfere with existing European colonies nor meddle in the affairs of European countries.
Although the doctrine is named after Monroe, many say that the credit belongs to then Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. The Doctrine was issued at a time when many Latin American countries were on the verge of becoming independent from the Spain. President Monroe wanted to avoid any European power taking Spain's colonies.
Monroe, first pronounced the doctrine during his State of the Union Address to Congress. The doctrine held that the New World and the Old World were to remain distinctly separate spheres of influence. At the time the doctrine wasn't taken all that seriously by the European powers because the U.S. lacked both a credible navy and army. But it did meet with tacit British approval, as well as support from many Latin American leaders including Simon Bolivar.
In the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, President John F. Kennedy cited the Monroe Doctrine as a basis for America's "eyeball-to-eyeball" confrontation with the Soviet Union that had embarked on a provocative campaign to install ballistic missiles on Cuban soil.
Although the doctrine is named after Monroe, many say that the credit belongs to then Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. The Doctrine was issued at a time when many Latin American countries were on the verge of becoming independent from the Spain. President Monroe wanted to avoid any European power taking Spain's colonies.
Monroe, first pronounced the doctrine during his State of the Union Address to Congress. The doctrine held that the New World and the Old World were to remain distinctly separate spheres of influence. At the time the doctrine wasn't taken all that seriously by the European powers because the U.S. lacked both a credible navy and army. But it did meet with tacit British approval, as well as support from many Latin American leaders including Simon Bolivar.
In the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, President John F. Kennedy cited the Monroe Doctrine as a basis for America's "eyeball-to-eyeball" confrontation with the Soviet Union that had embarked on a provocative campaign to install ballistic missiles on Cuban soil.