The Monroe Doctrine was a stroke of genius of John Adams, the actual author of the declaration. At the time of the doctrine, France had lost much of its territory in the forming of Mexico, Russia was beginning to colonize in the northwest section of America, and Greece was fighting its war for independence and calling on America for support. Britain had emerged victorious from the Napoleonic wars and controlled the seas with the Royal Navy. The United States, on the other hand, was struggling militarily and extremely fragile. Then, for apparently no reason, Britain offered the United States an alliance. Most politicians were dumbfounded as to why the strongest wor

ld power needed the weakest. However Adams, then Secretary of State, realized their scheme. The British were fearful that the United States would take Spanish Florida and Cuba, jeopardizing their prized Caribbean trade. Adams assumed that this alliance was not necessary at all. He believed that the Royal Navy would keep foreign powers out of South America anyways because it was an extremely valuable trade route for the British. After Adams won Monroe over, Monroe declared the new national policy in his Monroe Doctrine. The two key points of this doctrine were nonintervention and noncolonization. The policy of nonintervention declared that the United States would not become involved in “Old World” affairs. Noncolonization formally declared that the Americas were no longer open for colonization. The Monroe Doctrine slapped at the European powers from behind the broadsides of the British navy.

After Teddy, Taft took to the presidency and sheathed the “big stick” for the “Almighty Dollar.” Taft expanded on the precedent provided by the Roosevelt Corollary, stating that if any nation was politically or fiscally vulnerable to European control, then the United States had the right and obligation to intervene. He tried many times to use the power of finances to control Latin American nations. According to Bailey, in 1909, Taft unsuccessfully attempted to establish control over Honduras by buying up its debt to British bankers. In Nicaragua, American intervention included funding the country's debts to European bankers. In addition, the State Department persuaded four American banks to refinance Haiti's national debt, setting the stage for further intervention in the future. Despite the emphasis on the power of the economy, military force was still used during Taft’s term. Marines were sent to Latin America several times during upheavals in Nicaragua, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras. President Woodrow Wilson repudiated Taft’s approach to foreign policy within a few weeks of his inauguration in 1913. Although Wilson did not abstain from Caribbean intervention, using the dollar to advance national interests was no longer a national policy.

In the future, America may fall off of its pedestal as the strongest world power. If this happens, then the original doctrine may be needed once again to protect the states. Also, in the future, other incidents such as the Cuban Missile crisis, or perhaps conflicts with drug lords or private corporations may lead to the rejuvenation of the Roosevelt Corollary.

The end of the Spanish – American war made Americans realize the great need for a canal in Latin America. After many years of American involvement, the disputes over the canal were finally ended as construction began in Panama. The war brought about feelings of expansionism and imperialism in the hearts of the American people while inciting notions of fear and uneasiness in the Latin American countries, located directly beneath the colossal United States. Many Latin American countries had defaulted on their debts to European powers, namely Great Britain and Germany. As a response, Germany sent warships to the Caribbean, sunk ships, and laid siege to cities. T.R. was aroused by this intervention in Latin America, believing it could lead to permanent European involvement in the Western Hemisphere. Teddy Roosevelt announced his “Roosevelt Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine, adding a policy of “preventative intervention” where America could intervene in any affairs in the Western Hemisphere for the benefit and safety of America and all countries on the continents. He proclaimed that the United States, because it was a "civilized nation," had the right to stop "chronic wron

Some topics in this essay:
Monroe Doctrine, Roosevelt Corollary, Latin American, Western Hemisphere, Cold War, Nicaragua American, President Grant, monroe doctrine, Latin America, Depression United, Atlantic Ocean, latin america, latin american, western hemisphere, foreign policy, roosevelt corollary, european powers, “big stick”, american affairs, latin american affairs, broad interpretation monroe, interpretation monroe, interpretation monroe doctrine, american affairs own, ii cold war,