Download US History Standard 2.2

UNITED STATES HISTORY
AND THE CONSTITUTION
South Carolina
Standard USHC-2.1
Key Questions
What is the Monroe Doctrine?
 Why did the United States create the
Monroe Doctrine?
 How did the Monroe Doctrine affect United
States foreign policy?
 What impact did it have on the Mexican
War?
 How did other nations view the Monroe
Doctrine?

The Monroe Doctrine
The Doctrine was written by President
James Monroe in 1823
 The Monroe Doctrine simply put is that the
American Continents were off limits to
future colonization by any European
powers.
 In reality the US would not have been able
to back it the Doctrine do to a weak
military.

Wars and Trade
A common misunderstanding is that the
Monroe Doctrine was immediately
important.
 When the early 19th century wars of
liberation in South America ended their
mercantilist relationship with Spain, Great
Britain established strong trade ties with
Latin America.

Monarchs Back in Power
When the monarchs were restored in
Europe at the end of the Napoleonic wars,
they wanted to restore their colonial
holdings.
 Great Britain wanted to protect its
lucrative trade and encouraged the United
States to join Britain in opposing any
reestablishment of colonial claims.

Empty Threat?
President Monroe warned European
nations not to attempt to reestablish those
colonial claims.
 American military power was very limited
in the early 19th century and the
enforcement of the Monroe Doctrine
primarily depended on the British navy.

Long Term Resentment
The Monroe Doctrine would be used in the
late 19th and the early 20th centuries as a
basis for United States involvement in
Latin American affairs by Presidents
Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson.
 This caused resentment among Latin
Americans.

“Manifest Destiny”
“Manifest Destiny” was a phrase coined in the
1800s, but was an idea that had predominated
American thought since the first settlers.
 It is the belief that Americans had a God-given
right to all the land of the North American
continent.
 It was based on an ethnocentric confidence that
other peoples were less favored by divine
providence and should give way before the
Americans.

Deal Struck
The United States was willing to make a treaty
with Great Britain and accept less territory than
originally claimed in the Oregon territory.
 Supporters of the Oregon territory claimed the
boundary between US and Canada should be the
54 degree 40’ north latitude.
 Polk’s supporters slogan “fifty-four forty or fight”
 In private, President Polk agreed to split the
territory at the 49 degree north latitude instead.

Mexico invites U.S. Citizens
Many Americans moved into Texas at the
invitation of the Mexican government to
have more land for cotton and slavery.
 The conditions for that invitation included
that the Texans would obey the laws of
Mexico.

Texans Revolt over Slavery
When the Mexican government outlawed
slavery, the Texans revolted and won their
independence however the Mexicans did not
recognize Texan independence.
 The annexation of Texas to the United States
was delayed in order to avoid the controversy
that the addition of the new slave state would
raise and Texas remained independent for
almost a decade.

Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny became a rallying cry for
the election of James Polk in 1844 and
Texas was annexed by joint resolution of
Congress shortly thereafter.
 President Polk sent emissaries to Mexico
to offer to purchase additional Mexican
territory but his offer was rebuffed.

Land Grab
Then Polk sent American troops into a region
that was disputed between Texas and Mexico.
 The Mexicans interpreted this as a hostile act.
Shots were fired and President Polk interpreted
that action as an act of war.
 In the war, U.S. forces penetrated deeply into
Mexican territory and in the peace treaty the
United States acquired land that today includes
the states of California, New Mexico and
Arizona.

Deal at Gun Point
This land that the U.S “bought” from Mexico was
part of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo after the
fall of Mexico City to U.S. forces.
 This land now includes the states of California,
Utah, and Nevada, also parts of New Mexico,
Arizona, Colorado and Wyoming.
 Mexican War established an adversarial
relationship between the United States and
Mexico that lasted into the 20th century and
may still influence resentments exacerbated by
the contemporary controversy over illegal
immigration.
