Our nation’s fifth
president, James Monroe, once declared,
“National honor is national property of the
highest value.” This was an affirmation that
Monroe firmly believed in and one that he strove
to uphold throughout his presidency. The most
effective step Monroe took toward this ideal was
the drafting of the Monroe Doctrine. Not only
was the doctrine a solid declaration of American
views, but it was also an extremely farsighted
and visionary measure that still is a
fundamental part of our nation’s
decision-making process. Monroe’s foresight in
issuing this doctrine is a definite credit to
his role as a leader and the longevity of the
document is even more praise worthy. When
assessing the value of the Monroe Doctrine,
important points to consider are Monroe’s
motivations for writing it, the adaptation of
the doctrine through the years, and applications
of the doctrine.
Monroe’s reasons for
drafting the doctrine revolve mainly around the
threat of unrelenting European colonization on
the American continent. The memory of British
control and the Revolutionary War was still
fresh on America’s mind. Monroe’s need to
protect this new found freedom was the first and
foremost influence on all of his decisions.
During his presidency, Russia had established
fur trading posts down as far as Golden Gate.
Also, a large part of the California coastline
had been taken as Russian America (Bruce 132).
The possibility of European intervention in
Latin America spurred Monroe on, as well. When
French troops were sent to Spain to restore the
overthrown monarch, there seemed to be a very
real chance that European powers would next
cross the ocean to the Americas to restore
Spain’s colonies (Magill 122). With these
events taking place, Monroe saw the need for a
document that would clearly state America’s
stand on European interference in the Western
hemisphere. His fears of European intervention
and the action he took by writing the doctrine
are a result of his desire to protect the United
States’ honor and interests. Monroe’s
ability to see the threat that Europe could pose
to our national security led to one of the most
important defensive proclamations in history.
Another significant factor to
consider is the doctrine’s adaptability.
Monroe’s edict was a revolutionary idea in its
own time, but the fact that it has evolved and
changed throughout the years without losing its
main objective is a tribute to Monroe. One of
the doctrine’s major expansions came with the
idea of Manifest Destiny. The principle that
said no territory in the Western hemisphere
could be transferred from one European power to
another came into effect. Moreover, the
doctrine’s purposes were interpreted to mean
that territories in the Americas that were off
limits to European powers could become possible
additions to the United States. A further
notable addition to the original doctrine is the
Roosevelt Corollary. This extension was added
when occurrences of unrest and rebellion between
countries in Latin America were reported. In
essence, the corollary stated that if the unrest
continued it would compel the United States to
intervene in order to avert European
intervention (Encyclopedia 1). Yet another
example of the longevity of Monroe’s doctrine
occurred in 1941. Congress met on April 11 and
declared a joint resolution reaffirming the
principles of the Monroe Doctrine (Avalon 1).
This reaffirmation is evidence of how far
reaching and vital the Monroe Doctrine has been
in American foreign policy. The fact that the
Monroe Doctrine has the flexibility to change as
needed and still retain its intended purposes
attests to Monroe’s role as a visionary.
The situations when the
Monroe Doctrine has been applied are all
important parts of American history. One of the
earliest instances is in 1845 when Polk used it
to revoke Britain’s claim on Oregon and
California. Later in his administration, Polk
also warned European nations that their designs
on the Yucatan could force the United States to
take control of the territory (Encarta 1). By
far, the most important applications of the
Monroe Doctrine have occurred in the 20th
Century with the attempts to stop Communism from
spreading into the Western hemisphere. John F.
Kennedy’s presidency was filled with
applications of the Monroe Doctrine. In the
Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy applied the
doctrine and demanded the removal of Russian
nuclear warheads from Cuba. Not only was Kennedy
successful in protecting America from nuclear
war, but he also upheld the ideals of the Monroe
Doctrine by forcing Russia’s withdrawal from a
Western hemisphere territory. Later, the Reagan
administration plainly promoted the doctrine as
it opposed the spread of Communism in the
1980’s. The numerous applications of the
Monroe Doctrine throughout history are evidence
of the dramatic influence it has had. If Monroe
had not had the diligence and determination to
provide a preventative measure against further
European intervention, then it would be hard to
imagine what our lives would be like today.
Britain or Russia could have control over much
of the west coast of the United States and Spain
might be ruling much of the south and southwest.
The Soviet Union might have succeeded in her
attempts to spread Communism and many of the
Central and Latin American countries might still
be European colonies. If not for Monroe and his
planning, the United States would very likely
not be the Super Power she is today.
Monroe’s vision is very
much alive and well today. That is due in great
part to his ability to see future problems and
take measures to prevent them. This ability
allowed Monroe to lead America well during his
lifetime and it led to the drafting of the
Monroe Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine is a set of
ideas that has allowed Monroe’s vision of a
safe, prosperous, and honorable nation to
continue long after his death. The doctrine has
been a tool used by leaders of America to
safeguard the interests of the American people
and to maintain the freedom that was attained so
long ago. Monroe’s vision of “national
honor” is one that has been achieved through
the years by using preventative measures he so
wisely set down during his terms as president.
The Avalon Project. Ed.
William C. Fray. 1997. 22 Mar. 2001. http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/wwii/joinmon.htn
Bruce, David K. E. Sixteen
American Presidents: From Washington to Lincoln.
Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc.,
1962.
Encyclopedia.com. 22 Mar.
2001. http://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/08688ApplicationandExtension.html
Magill, Frank N, ed. The
American Presidents. vol 1.Englewood Cliffs:
Salem Press, 1986.
“The Monroe Doctrine”.
Encarta Online. 22 Mar. 2001. http://www.encarta.msn.com/index/conciseindex/62/06223000.htm?2=1#s3
