Monroe Sets Out a New Policy Toward the Americas
President James Monroe delivered the annual message associated with the Monroe Doctrine on December 2, 1823.
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The Event
President James Monroe delivered the annual message associated with the Monroe Doctrine on December 2, 1823. It warned European powers against new colonization and intervention in the Americas.
The Wider Story
The statement reflected the independence of former Spanish colonies and American strategic concerns. British naval power also shaped the international setting.
Putting the Event in Perspective
The policy was not a treaty accepted by every American republic.
Reading the Historical Record
Its later uses and expansions should be distinguished from the wording and limited enforcement capacity of 1823.
About the Historical Recreation
The accompanying visual is an illustrative reconstruction: an 1823 Washington study with unreadable diplomatic papers and an early map of the Americas. It is not authentic archival footage, an eyewitness record or additional evidence for the event.
Sources
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