Monroe Doctrine Themes
Power
The Monroe Doctrine is all about power. Not like Incredible Hulk power, or Louis XIV power, but a less in-your-face type. President Monroe challenged centuries of colonization by European nations,...
American Exceptionalism
The Monroe Doctrine is like the poster child for American Exceptionalism. The idea that the U.S. has a unique ideology and a special mission to spread that ideology in the world found a real footho...
Imperialism
From the 16th century onward, building empires is a part of everyday life for a number of European countries. With the Monroe Doctrine, the U.S. deflected that imperialism away from the Americas. I...
Contrasting Regions
The strength and purpose of the Monroe Doctrine relies on there being a difference between the U.S. (with Latin America) and Europe. The idea of America as the pure republican improvement to the co...
Politics
Even in the 1820s, politics were pretty global. Relationships between nations and their rulers started wars, dictated trade agreements, and affected territory disputes. Colonialism had spread the w...