Source Analysis Paper
By Ethan Most
With the presenting of the Monroe Doctrine in 1823 it has sparked a type of zeal for patriotism
that has lasted for more than 150 years. Such a doctrine contains a high value in what it says and how it
was carried out. From Monroe and the war of 1812 to Roosevelt in the early 1900's and the modern day
society, it has been reinterpreted and used over and over again to get certain political agendas done.
Because of this it is a very important primary source for the United States but also there are hundreds of
secondary sources that cover a broad spectrum of the doctrine. People have everything from
newspapers to the text itself in an online format which they can read any day, at any time.
The origin of the Monroe doctrine is somewhat construed by what the events were in the early
days of the 19th century. Independence still had come for many of the South American countries and
the threat of victorious European powers still loomed over head for the young United States. In Earlier
years with the Napoleonic wars, the US feared the colonization from the European countries would
come and start colonizing once again. The origins of this doctrine came out of fear for what could
happen. Once again Europe was ready to bounce back and try to make money however they could. One
of those ways was through colonization and Spain had just lost most of its empire in the west. Monroe
Argues for the independent governments when he says "But with the Governments who have declared
their independence and maintained 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" (Monroe Doctrine pg. 50) A
long quote but one that gets the point across. There will be no more colonization from European powers
and this is where it is often misread because the US has used the same doctrine to colonize Western
America. The origins are quite simple and one that shouldn’t be mislabeled or misread. The origins of a
realization of a sphere of influence on one side of the world meaning the old world and the other sphere
of influence which is the new world. When making this document it meant little more than an attempt
for the United States voice to be heard in a sea of national powers fighting it out with each other.
The Monroe Doctrine is first and foremost a primary source but it is also used as a secondary
source when the government decides it wants to do something in South America. This is because they
out line certain things and use snippets to get their point across. However it serves as a primary because
it’s the original thing and people can glean from the Monroe Doctrine a lot of things. Also there have
been many different books and articles written on the Doctrine or talking about it when a current event
happens like the Mexican-American war and Roosevelt's policies in South America. For example, here is
a result of the Russian-American relations after the Doctrine," the United States succeeded in
partitioning the northwest coast at 54°40′. Both the United States and Russia refrained from mentioning
the non-colonization principle during the negotiation."(Hiroo Diplomatic History pg. 462) This also shows
how it has been used as a secondary source by Hiroo in his essay. That and many other sources that can
be found all over the place like in The Making of the Monroe Doctrine by Ernest May he talks about the
"Decisions that had to be influenced by practical consequences." (May pg. 65) The Monroe Doctrine
serves as a great example of how secondary sources have played on it and used it to design their
personal meanings. However it does not impede on the fact that it is a great primary source as well. This
is because it is the very words and actions of that time period and a chance to see what they were
thinking with their current policies and events. A chance to look between the lines to see if anything is
there and that we can use in our foreign policy today.
This leads into why this Doctrine is so important. It is very important because it has been used
by so many presidents and congresses that it has to have had some value to it. Monroe was facing a
period of Independence and hungry Europe to get its colonies back. However Monroe also wanted to
make a statement that would hopefully put America in league with the big boys and keep the two
worlds of influence on their own sides. He managed to do that through the Monroe Doctrine. At the
time America had a small navy but one that had managed on its own and was thriving and it was an
overarching statement that turned around some of the ideology in foreign affairs. Now the United
States wasn’t just on their own terms but rather on a much grander scale of foreign relations. The
Monroe Doctrine set up a categorical series of intervention (mostly Military) for next one hundred and
fifty years. However it also did an odd thing with people's minds and that phenomenon is isolationism.
The thought of "they keep to their side then all is good and we won't associate with them" became an
overwhelming popular idea. Isolationism that crept up every time that Europe did something like start a
war and that is seen when World War 1 and 2 begin. This has now become a very complicated issue
because not only did it push for foreign diplomacy but it created isolationism at the same time. This is
why the Monroe Doctrine is so fascinating and important because it sets up the stage for major world
events like the Mexican American war, the Russian-American Treaty, the Spanish American War and
others. But it also created a dual mind set for the American people one for Imperialism and the other
Isolationism which is most intriguing. The Monroe doctrine finds the important use of being reused over
the years. This is another reason as to why Americans feel like it is really an important manuscript is that
it can be used and or slightly varied and another good example of that is the constitution. The difference
is that the Monroe doctrine is specified for foreign policies and yet it can always be reused and so
people find value in it. The last thing about the doctrine that seems to be important, especially with the
difficult economic times, is the assessment of the war debts. It has a plan for how to pay them off and it
has an end goal. This is something of which the politicians today should have installed for the United
States debt as well. This is incredibly important because it kind of shows the responsibility the leaders
back then had and how they took care of it. It shows an example of the US treasury in 1823 as having a
surplus, "… and that there will remain in the Treasury on the 1st day of January next a surplus of nearly
$9,000,000"(Monroe Doctrine pg.13) Today it seems that there is no push for good monetary systems
and responsibilities and it should be used as an example of what to take care of in the Modern United
States debt.
The Monroe Doctrine is by far one of the most well-known documents in our history and this is
because it has set up the stage for the United States to become a bold nation. One that could become a
great nation out of the west to oppose the Eastern powers and can spark national pride in Americans for
a very long time and for very specific reasons. Yet it still has put into Americans minds that idea of
staying homeward bound and to not initiate with other countries unless initiated upon. History has
given modern scholars and historians great examples of how the Monroe doctrine has been used,
abused and how it has survived over the years. It is a pillar of American foreign diplomacy that might
have to be reinstated if the United States plunges any further down with foreign wars and conflicts.
Something of which the Doctrine itself could adapt to and it probably already has but that is the beauty
of the Monroe doctrine and the fact that it can be solid in many different situations. It also gives good
monetary value and accounting and it provides an ocean full of ideas on what to write about for
secondary sources. The Monroe doctrine stands as a pillar of influence to the American Foreign Policy
and the American People and it will continue to do so for as long as the Nation stands.