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Summary
This
article
is
metamorphosis
a
of
discussion
the
Monroe
of
the
gradual
Doctrine.
It
process
of
chronologically
discusses how the Monroe Speech came to be made in the
Congress of America and gradually took the shape of a major
policy statement later on. The doctrine acquired different shape
and meaning under different Presidents, from Monroe himself to
Franklin D. Roosevelt. The changing political and economic
scenario of America also had a major role to play in this process of
transformation. A thorough assessment has also been made in
this article to help the students get a fair idea about the doctrine,
its negative and positive aspects, and its applicability in the
present parlance.
Objective
 Trace the history of the foreign policies of America
 Understand the importance of the doctrine in re-shaping the
American civilization.
Glossary
1. James Monroe (1789 – 1831): The fifth President of the
United States (1817-1825),- his Presidency is better known for his
espousal of the famous Monroe Doctrine in 1823.
2. John Quincy Adams (1767 – 1848): The sixth President of
the United States,- he was better known for drafting the Monroe
Doctrine, as the Secretary of state under President Monroe.
3. Quadruple Alliance: This alliance created in 1813, after the
Napoleonic war to uphold the settlements made at Vienna. It
comprised of the United Kingdom, Austria, Prussia, Russia, and
France.
4. Western Hemisphere: Geographically this term is used to
refer to the area lying west of the Prime Meridian. The New World,
ie. America, and its adjacent territories are referred to as the
western hemisphere.
5. Aleutian Islands: These are a group of 300 small volcanic
islands extending from Alaska Peninsula to the Kamchatka
Peninsula. In the Northern Pacific Ocean they form a volcanic arc.
6. Xenophobia: It means intense dislike and fear of ‘strangers’
and ‘foreigners.’ It derives from a Greek word xenos meaning
‘stranger’ and phobos meaning ‘fear’.
7. James K. Polk (1795 – 1849): The eleventh President of the
United States, serving office from 1845-1849.
8. Cyrus McCormick (1809 – 1884): The American inventor of
the McCormick Harvesting machine,and the founder of the
McCormick Harvesting Machine Company which in 1902 became a
part of the International Harvester Company.
9. John Deere: An American blacksmith who invented the
agricultural
plough.
He
went
on
to
establish
the
largest
agricultural equipment manufacturing company of the world.
10. Rockefellers: The richest family of America associated with
such financial organisations like the Chase Manhattan Bank and JP
Morgan Chase. They also had the world’s largest oil business and
private fortune in the 19th and the early 20th century.
F.A.Q
1. State the background of the Monroe Doctrine.
A)The Monroe Doctrine had its origin in the speeches and policy
statements of the previous Presidents of the United States
amongst whom the names of George Washington, and Thomas
Jefferson are noteworthy.The American ideologue Tom Paine also
contributed by his words and speeches to the ultimate drafting of
the famous Monroe Doctrine.
2. What circumstances led Monroe to adopt this policy?
A) A sudden reversal of situation occurred with the interventionist
stand adopted by Czarist Russia and the Quadruple Alliance of
Europe in the neighbourhood of America which led Monroe to
adopt this doctrine of non-colonization and non-intervention.
3. What were the main points of the Monroe doctrine?
A)The Monroe Doctrine categorically stated that no non-American
nation would be allowed to interfere in,or colonize any part of the
New World. It was further added that America would herself keep
away from non-American or continental affairs and would restrain
itself from acquiring any colonies in any part of the world.
4. How effective was the Monroe doctrine in controlling
European interference ?
A)Even though the Monroe doctrine was not backed by naval and
military power it could still exert enough influence on the
continental powers,who decided to respect the newly asserted
rights of America and respect their newly created boundary of
‘western hemisphere’. This brought many accolades for Monroe’s
foreign policy.
5. Why did James Polk re-invoke the Monroe Doctrine?
A) The doctrine was revived in 1845 in relation to the Texan affair,
to prevent Mexico from seeking any external help ie. extraAmerican assistance. America was afraid that in case a war broke
out Mexico would request assistance,from its previous colonial
master,Spain,and
in
all
likelihood
it
would
be
granted.The
adoption of the Monroe Doctrine could avert this problem faced by
America.
6.How did events in Latin America influence American
foreign policy ?
When succeeding revolts broke out in the Latin American countries
like Peru,Bolivia,Argentina and Chile, rhe United States became
scared that this would provide an opportunity to the European
colonial powers to meddle in this part of the world and thereby
pose a threat to it.
7.What was happening in Mexico at the time ?
In 1863 the French forces under Napoleon III had invaded and
conquered Mexico and placed Maxmilian on the Mexican throne.As
the Civil War was going on at the time the United States could not
do much about it.But as soon as it ended American troops were
brought to Rio Grande aiming to
occupation.
But
in
the
meantime
force France to end its
the
Mexican
nationals
themselves killed Maxmilian and reasserted the independence of
Mexico.
8.What internal factors contributed to the transition of a
speech into the Monroe Doctrine ?
America was witnessing a revolution both in agriculture and
industry,that led to an upsurge in the nation’s wealth and
prosperity.A change in the attitude of Americans was a natural
outcome of this situation.They thus started adopting a more
bellicose attitude so far as foreign policy matters were concerned.
9.What
was
rhe
significance
of
the
Paris
Peace
Conference(1919), so far as the United States of America
was concerned?
Woodrow Wilson represented the United States of America,at the
conference but it was clear from the proceedings that Europe was
still not in the mood to consider America as a world power as
yet.Apart from incorporating the ‘fourteen points’of Wilson in the
peace declaration,America’s intention of using this forum to
declare itself as a world power remained futile.
10.What caused the Spanish-American War in 1893 ?
Cuba was a French colony.A series of rebellions staged by the
Cubans had failed to end Spanish rule.Tension and indignation
started rising in the United States against atrocities being
committed by Spain in Cuba,along with concern for the safety of
American nationals living in Havana.This led to the American
Congress
passing
independence,and
a
resolution
authorising
in
American
favour
of
Cuban
troops
to
protect
Cubans,which led to the war and eventual declaration of Cuban
independence.
Assignment
1. Describe the circumstances leading to the adoption of the
Monroe Doctrine.
2. Describe the nature of the Monroe Doctrine.
3. Describe the process of transformation of the Monroe speech
into a full-fledged doctrine.
4. What new faculties did the doctrine develop under James K.
Polk?
5. Make a brief assessment of the Monroe Doctrine.
M.C.Q
1. When did Monroe deliver his historic speech?
4th November 1823
5th January1832
2nd December 1823 (correct answer)
2. Who had earlier pronounced the same opinion, before
Monroe?
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson (correct answer)
John Adams and Hamilton
Andrew Jackson and James K. Polk
3. Name the book by Dexter Perkins.
Monroe Doctrine
Making of the Monroe Doctrine
A History of the Monroe Doctrine (correct answer)
4. Who was the actual formulator of the Monroe Doctrine?
John Adams
James Madison
John Quincy Adams (correct answer)
5. Who invented the Harvester?
McDonald
McCormick (correct answer)
McDougal
6.When did the Paris Peace Conference take place ?
1819.
1919.(correct answer)
1929
7.Who adopted the’good neighbour’policy ?
Franklin D Roosevelt.(correct answer)
Thomas Jefferson
James Monroe.
8. Name the pioneer maker of steel from iron-ore in
America.
Andrew Carnegie.(right answer)
Rockefeller.
John Deere
9.When did the attack on Pearl Harbour take place ?
Dec. 1911.
Dec.1841.
Dec. 1941.(correct answer)
10.Name the family associated with the petrol industry in
Pennsylvania ?
Wilson family.
Rockefeller family.(correct answer)
Jackson family.
Reference
1. Perkins, Dexter. Bringing the Monroe Doctrine Up-to-date,
Foreign Affairs, Vol.20, No.253, 1941.
2. Burgan, Michael. The Monroe Doctrine, Compass Point Books,
2007.
3. Sicker, Martin. The Geopolitics of Security in the Americas:
Hemispheric
Denial
from
Monroe
to
Clinton,
Greenwood
Publishing Group, 2002.
4. Zarefsky, David. Always a Place for Rhetorical Leadership in L.
G. Dorsey ed., The Presidency and Rhetorical Leadership, Texas
A&M University Press, 2008.
5. Paarlberg, Don and Philip. "The Agricultural Revolution of the
20th Century" Blackwell Publishing, 2000.
6. Bilhartz, Terry D. and Alan C. Elliott, Currents in American
History: A Brief History of the United States, M.E. Sharpe,
2007.
7. Zakaria, Fareed. From Wealth to Power: The Unusual Origins
of America's World Role, Princeton University Press, 1998.
8. Ryan, David. US Foreign Policy in World History, Routledge,
2000.
9. May, Ernest R. The Making of the Monroe Doctrine, Harvard
University Press, 1975.
10. Logan, John A. No Transfer: An American Security Principle,
Yale University Press, 1961.