Monroe Doctrine
U.S. policy opposing foreign intervention in the Western Hemisphere.
The Monroe Doctrine is a United States foreign policy position that opposes any foreign interference in the Western Hemisphere. Originally concerned with European colonialism, it holds that any intervention in the political affairs of the Americas by foreign powers is a potentially hostile act against the United States. The doctrine was central to American grand strategy in the 20th century.
- field
- Foreign policy
- nationality
- United States
- known_for
- Opposing European intervention in the Americas
- first_articulated
- December 2, 1823
- named_after
- President James Monroe (named in 1850)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
President James Monroe first articulated the doctrine on December 2, 1823, during his seventh annual State of the Union Address to Congress, though it was not named after him until 1850. At the time, nearly all Spanish colonies in the Americas either had achieved or were close to independence. Monroe asserted that the New World and the Old World were to remain separate spheres of influence, and that further efforts by European powers to control or influence sovereign states in the region would be viewed as a threat to U.S. security. In turn, the United States would recognize and not interfere with existing European colonies nor meddle in the internal affairs of European countries. Because the U.S. lacked a credible navy and army at the time of the doctrine's proclamation, it was largely ignored by the colonial powers. While it was successfully enforced in part by the United Kingdom, which used it as an opportunity to enforce its own Pax Britannica policy, the doctrine was ignored several times over the course of the 19th century, notably with the second French intervention in Mexico. By the beginning of the 20th century, in what is regarded as a pivotal moment in the history of its foreign policy, the United States itself was able to successfully enforce the doctrine.
Reader's Guide
The Monroe Doctrine shaped U.S. foreign policy for nearly two centuries, evolving from a largely ignored statement into a cornerstone of American grand strategy. Initially, the United States lacked the military power to enforce it, and European powers largely disregarded it. The British Royal Navy effectively enforced the doctrine for decades as part of its Pax Britannica policy. After 1898, the doctrine was reinterpreted by lawyers and intellectuals as promoting multilateralism and non-intervention. In 1933, under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the United States affirmed this new interpretation in co-founding the Organization of American States. Into the 21st century, the doctrine continues to be variably denounced, reinstated, or reinterpreted. It has been invoked by many U.S. statesmen and several U.S. presidents, including Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Donald Trump.
Did You Know?
- The doctrine was not named after President James Monroe until 1850, 27 years after he first articulated it.
- At the time of its proclamation, the U.S. lacked a credible navy and army, so the doctrine was largely ignored by colonial powers.
- The British Royal Navy effectively enforced the Monroe Doctrine for many years as part of its Pax Britannica policy.
- The doctrine was notably ignored during the second French intervention in Mexico in the 19th century.
- After 1898, the Monroe Doctrine was reinterpreted by lawyers and intellectuals as promoting multilateralism and non-intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Monroe Doctrine?
It is a U.S. foreign policy stance that treats any outside power meddling in the political affairs of the Americas as a potential threat to American interests. Originally aimed at blocking European colonial expansion, it declared the Western Hemisphere off-limits to foreign political interference.
When was the Monroe Doctrine first articulated?
President James Monroe laid out the policy in his message to Congress on December 2, 1823. The specific label "Monroe Doctrine" wasn't attached to it until 1850.
Who is the Monroe Doctrine named after?
It takes its name from President James Monroe, who first articulated the position in 1823. The formal naming didn't happen until 1850, more than two decades after the original statement.
What does the Monroe Doctrine actually prohibit?
It declares that European intervention in the political affairs of the Western Hemisphere constitutes a potentially hostile act against the United States. In practice, it was designed to prevent new European colonization or any reassertion of imperial control over the Americas.
Why is the Monroe Doctrine historically significant?
It became a central pillar of American grand strategy throughout the 20th century, shaping how Washington defined its sphere of influence in the hemisphere. The doctrine established a lasting principle that the Americas were to be free from outside political interference.
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