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17
TheMonroeDoctrine,December2,1823
InthesphereofforeignrelationstheperiodofJamesMonroe’spresidencywasdominated
bytwosubjects:thepoliticalsituationinEuropeaftertheendofNapoleonicwarsand
theeruptionofwarsforindependenceintheSpanishcoloniesintheNewWorld.Atthe
beginningofthe1820s,thesetwoproblemswerecloselyrelatedtoeachother.
TheendoftheNapoleonicwarsin1815wasthemomentinwhichthevictorious
powersstartedlookingforamechanismthatwouldensuretherestorationoftheold
order(ancientregime)whichwasinterruptedbytheNapoleon’scampaign.Themost
interestedinthatprojectwerethemonarchsofthreemostreactionistmonarchies:
Russia,PrussiaandAustria.TheViennaCongresswastherstimportantsteptowardthe
restorationoftheoldorder.Oneofthemostimportantgoalsofthatkindofpolicywasto
stopanyliberalmovementsthatcouldthreatentheabsolutistmonarchies.Tostrengthen
thatpolicy,TsarAlexanderofRussiaproposedacloseralliancewithitscounterparts
inPrussiaandAustria.Themonarchsdeclaredthattheprincipalaimoftheallianceis
to“Manifestbeforethewholeuniversetheirunshakabledeterminationtotakeastheir
soleguide(ł)thepreceptsofreligion,namely,therulesofJustice,ChristianCharity
andPeace.(ł)ConformablywiththewordsoftheHolyScripture,whichcommand
allmentoconsidereachotherasbrethren,thethreecontractingMonarchswillremain
unitedbythebondsofatrueandindissolublefraternity.Consideringeachotheras
fellowcountrymen,theywillonalloccasionsandinallplaceslendeachotheraidand
assistance(ł).”TheHolyAlliance,asitusedtobecalled,wasopentoanyotherstate
whoseauthoritiesshareditsobjectives.Fromtheverybeginning,GreatBritainwas
outsidethealliance.WhydidthoseaffairsmattersomuchtotheMonroeadministration
intheUnitedStates?ThefundamentalrulesoftheHolyAlliancewereincontradiction
withthebasicAmericanvalues.TheHolyAlliancedesiredtoghtwithallliberaland
republicanideas.
USdiplomacyperceivedtheHolyAllianceasapotentialthreattoAmericansecurity
becauseofthesituationinLatinAmerica.Fromthebeginningofthe19thcentury,the
Spanishcoloniesinthatregionwereghtingforindependence.Aftertherestoration
oftheancientregimeintheconsequenceoftheViennaCongressandthecreationof
theHolyAlliance,therewasapossibilitythattheEuropeanpowerscouldhelpSpain
intheirstruggleforpreservingitscolonialempireinAmerica.Thiscouldposeareal
dangertotheUnitedStates.Inthissituation,itwasnaturalthatthetwostatesthat
wereoutsidetheHolyAllianceandhadcompletelydifferentinterestsininternational
relations,weresearchingforthemostlegitimatepolicyagainstapotentialdangerfrom
theHolyAlliance.TheinitiativecamefromBritishforeignministerGeorgeCanning.
Atthebeginningof1823,hecontactedtheAmericanenvoyinLondontodiscussthe
possibilitiesofclosercooperationintheirpolicytowardtheHolyAllianceanditspossible
actionsinthecaseoftheSpanishcoloniesinLatinAmerica.Oneofthemostimportant
elementsoftheBritishpropositionwastheannouncementthattheAmericancontinent
shouldbefreefromanyattemptsofEuropeanpowersinestablishingnewcolonies.
ThispropositionwaswidelyconsideredintheUnitedStates.Atthebeginning,President