Monroe Doctrine

The Monroe Doctrine, established in 1823 by President James Monroe, was a key U.S. policy aimed at limiting European interference in the Americas. It asserted that the Western Hemisphere should be free from colonization and any foreign intervention. Essentially, it warned European nations that the U.S. would view attempts to colonize or influence countries in the Americas as acts of aggression, which could lead to conflict. This doctrine reflected a growing sense of American nationalism and served as a foundation for U.S. foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere for years to come.