The Doctrine & Pax Britannica
During his seventh annual State of the Union Address, President James Monroe wanted to make it clear to Congress that he had no interest in any other nations, especially Europe, trying to take more land in the Americas to use as colonies and territories. Included in the speech was the thought that if any European nation did in fact try to intervene, it would be seen as an act of aggression towards the United States and the United States would be allowed to retaliate or get involved.[1] Originally proposed to be an act of self-defense for the United States and North and South American countries alike, the Monroe Doctrine set the grounds for the United States to expand as a country. To be fair, the Monroe Doctrine also said that the United States would not interfere by actively trying to obtain colonies that were already governed, however, there was land that was not previously owned that the United States wanted to expand in to the West.[2] With Britain owning about a quarter of the land and population on earth, the United States wanted to make sure they could continue to expand and not be forced to return under the rule of Britain.[3] To maintain peace, Britain accepted the Monroe Doctrine to protect themselves from other countries not owned by them trying to gain the colonies around them for their own benefit and for use to fight against Britain. The official doctrine is extensively written with wordy explanations, however the main idea can be understood in the introductory statement and the part addressed to the allied powers. This reads as follows:
We owe it, therefore, to candor and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those powers to declare that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety. With the existing colonies or dependencies of any European power we have not interfered and shall not interfere. But with the Governments who have declared their independence and maintain it, and whose independence we have, on great consideration and on just principles, acknowledged, we could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing them, or controlling in any other manner their destiny, by any European power in any other light than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States.[4]
This main passage lays out the foundation for the main argument known as the Monroe Doctrine. President Monroe made it clear that any colonies that are already owned by the European nations will not be interfered with, but if a country already had an established government without being attached to any other higher country, they were also to be left alone. This was in part to prevent Britain from starting another war to try and win the United States back and make it a colony. From this view point, the doctrine was used as a tactful defense.
With the introduction of the Monroe Doctrine, Britain was approving of this change to keep trouble away from their power. At the time, Britain was in a stage of peace, known as the Pax Britannica. This span of one hundred years was the time that Britain became the leading force in the free world, managing relations between many countries and acting as an overall police country.[5] Britain was considered the highest and best in political achievement during its time of peace. During this time, Britain controlled the main maritime routes and was the leading force in making war illegal in the water. This meant that all wars had to be fought on land, making the sea a peaceful and shared space that could be used freely between countries that wanted to trade. Britain enjoyed this freedom for one hundred years and continued to gain colonies in the process of this time of peace. Although they experienced a time of great peace, with their only known enemy being Russia, and being the center powerhouse of the world, the Monroe Doctrine brought down much of the British power when it was first announced.[6] Originally, Britain might have continued to obtain colonies, however they agreed with the Monroe Doctrine to make sure they were also not challenged for the colonies they already owned. This was also a self-defense decision, but may have affected their ultimate loss of many colonies. In the end, the Monroe Doctrine brought peace to most of the countries, including Britain. It kept a balance between countries trying to accumulate colonies and other territories while still allowing them to keep colonies that were already owned. The United States used this as a way to keep their territory, stay out of war with Britain, and eventually expand West through the entirety of North America.[7]
[1] "Avalon Project - Monroe Doctrine; December 2 1823." Avalon Project - Monroe Doctrine; December 2 1823. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/monroe.asp (accessed February 16, 2014).
[2] The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. "Monroe Doctrine (American history)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/390243/Monroe-Doctrine (accessed February 18, 2014).
[3] Perkins, Dexter. A history of the Monroe Doctrine. Little, Brown, 1955.
[4] May, Ernest R. The making of the Monroe Doctrine. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1975.
[5] Watts, Carl. "Pax Britannica." Encyclopedia of the Age of Imperialism, 1800-1914 II (2007): 547-50. http://www.academia.edu/2013776/Pax_Britannica (accessed February 18, 2014).
[6] "The Rise and Fall of England: 8. Pax Britannica." : The Freeman : Foundation for Economic Education. http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/the-rise-and-fall-of-england-8-pax-britannica#axzz2tAM1cT1g (accessed February 18, 2014).
[7] "RealClearHistory - Pax Britannica Was Good for Civilization." RealClearHistory – Pax Britannica Was Good for Civilization. http://www.realclearhistory.com/historiat/2013/10/28/pax_britannica_was_good_for_civilization_150.html (accessed February 18, 2014).
We owe it, therefore, to candor and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those powers to declare that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety. With the existing colonies or dependencies of any European power we have not interfered and shall not interfere. But with the Governments who have declared their independence and maintain it, and whose independence we have, on great consideration and on just principles, acknowledged, we could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing them, or controlling in any other manner their destiny, by any European power in any other light than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States.[4]
This main passage lays out the foundation for the main argument known as the Monroe Doctrine. President Monroe made it clear that any colonies that are already owned by the European nations will not be interfered with, but if a country already had an established government without being attached to any other higher country, they were also to be left alone. This was in part to prevent Britain from starting another war to try and win the United States back and make it a colony. From this view point, the doctrine was used as a tactful defense.
With the introduction of the Monroe Doctrine, Britain was approving of this change to keep trouble away from their power. At the time, Britain was in a stage of peace, known as the Pax Britannica. This span of one hundred years was the time that Britain became the leading force in the free world, managing relations between many countries and acting as an overall police country.[5] Britain was considered the highest and best in political achievement during its time of peace. During this time, Britain controlled the main maritime routes and was the leading force in making war illegal in the water. This meant that all wars had to be fought on land, making the sea a peaceful and shared space that could be used freely between countries that wanted to trade. Britain enjoyed this freedom for one hundred years and continued to gain colonies in the process of this time of peace. Although they experienced a time of great peace, with their only known enemy being Russia, and being the center powerhouse of the world, the Monroe Doctrine brought down much of the British power when it was first announced.[6] Originally, Britain might have continued to obtain colonies, however they agreed with the Monroe Doctrine to make sure they were also not challenged for the colonies they already owned. This was also a self-defense decision, but may have affected their ultimate loss of many colonies. In the end, the Monroe Doctrine brought peace to most of the countries, including Britain. It kept a balance between countries trying to accumulate colonies and other territories while still allowing them to keep colonies that were already owned. The United States used this as a way to keep their territory, stay out of war with Britain, and eventually expand West through the entirety of North America.[7]
[1] "Avalon Project - Monroe Doctrine; December 2 1823." Avalon Project - Monroe Doctrine; December 2 1823. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/monroe.asp (accessed February 16, 2014).
[2] The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. "Monroe Doctrine (American history)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/390243/Monroe-Doctrine (accessed February 18, 2014).
[3] Perkins, Dexter. A history of the Monroe Doctrine. Little, Brown, 1955.
[4] May, Ernest R. The making of the Monroe Doctrine. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1975.
[5] Watts, Carl. "Pax Britannica." Encyclopedia of the Age of Imperialism, 1800-1914 II (2007): 547-50. http://www.academia.edu/2013776/Pax_Britannica (accessed February 18, 2014).
[6] "The Rise and Fall of England: 8. Pax Britannica." : The Freeman : Foundation for Economic Education. http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/the-rise-and-fall-of-england-8-pax-britannica#axzz2tAM1cT1g (accessed February 18, 2014).
[7] "RealClearHistory - Pax Britannica Was Good for Civilization." RealClearHistory – Pax Britannica Was Good for Civilization. http://www.realclearhistory.com/historiat/2013/10/28/pax_britannica_was_good_for_civilization_150.html (accessed February 18, 2014).