The Monroe Doctrine was established in 1823 and stated that European countries should not colonize or interfere with states in the Americas. It said the Americas were closed to future European colonization and promised U.S. neutrality in existing European conflicts if Europe did not seek to oppress or control any independent state in North or South America. Over time the doctrine became less popular in Central America but was used by President Polk to justify some of his policies and helped keep European influence out of the Americas until the early 20th century.

1. The Monroe Doctrine

2. Background
• Monroe was the 5th president
• Was a lawyer/planter
• Fought in the Revolutionary War
• Democratic Republican Party
• The speech was to congress in 1823

3. Origin
• Original speech was on December 2nd, 1823
• Adams came to Monroe
• Washington’s Farewell Address
• Western Expansion
• European countries wanting new territories

4. The Doctrine Itself
• Europe should not colonize or mettle in affairs
of the Americas
• Promised neutrality in conflict between
European Countries and their colonies, only if
the colonies were not in the Americas
• Acts against the Doctrine were considered
hostile

5. Opposition
• Over the years, it became more unpopular
across Central America
• Russia and other European countries
• Pan American Conference of 1928

6. Political Impact
• James K. Polk used doctrine as basis for some
of his policies
• Kept European countries out of the Americas
• The Roosevelt Corollary
• Was essentially what Washington’s farewell
address was

7. Sources
• http://www.cfr.org/americas/monroe-
doctrine/p9608
• http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h255.html
• http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/mon
roe.asp
• http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/usa/mo
ndoc.html