Manifest Destiny and Monroe Doctrine

N.B. A concept is an idea or thought. Those concepts are also referred to as ideologies or paradigms which are ways of thinking.

MANIFEST DESTINY

This concept came about in 1801 when Thomas Jefferson, the US President said that it was a natural idea that the US would dominate the Americans including the Caribbean in wealth, power and territory. The US government at this time and from then on promoted the idea that the US was culturally superior and that the US was expected to dominate the Caribbean.

MONROE DOCTRINE

Overview

From the beginning of the 20th century the US government was pursuing a policy to become one of the world super power. In 1823, the US president at the time, James Monroe stated very clearly an idea that became known as the Monroe Doctrine. He said that America would resist any attempts by foreign especially the Europeans to reclaim and recolonize any part of the American continent and the Caribbean.

Details

The Monroe Doctrine, proclaimed on the 2nd December 1823, outlined how the USA would deal with other countries in the Americas (South Central America and the Caribbean). It was named after President James Monroe (1758 -1831), the fifth president of the USA , who occupied office from 1817 to 1825.

The Monroe Doctrine had four basic points;

1. The USA would would not interfere in the internal affairs of, or the wars between European powers.

2. The USA recognizes and would not interfere with existing colonies and dependencies in the Western hemisphere.

3. The Western hemisphere was closed to future colonization.

4. Any attempt by a European power to oppress or control any nation in the Western hemisphere would by viewed as a hostile act against the USA.