Monroe Doctrine - Background

Background

Dexter Perkins wrote that the Monroe Doctrine was inspired by the Napoleonic Wars. The American government feared the victorious European powers would revive the monarchical government. France had already agreed to restore the Spanish Monarchy in exchange for Cuba. As the revolutionary Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) ended, Prussia, Austria, and Russia formed the Holy Alliance to defend monarchism. In particular, the Holy Alliance authorized military incursions to re-establish Bourbon rule over Spain and its colonies, which were establishing their independence. . Great Britain was in accordance with America in regards to the Monroe Doctrine and even wanted to declare a joint statement to keep other European powers from further colonizing the New World. The British under Prime Minister Canning wanted to keep the other European powers out of the New World fearing that its trade with the New World would be harmed if the other European powers further colonized it. In fact, Great Britain, for much of the early years of the Monroe Doctrine, was the sole nation enforcing it through the use of its navy (initially America was unable to enforce their own doctrine as they lacked any meaningful military or navy). In 1829, however, despite Britain having been on board with the Monroe Doctrine and having helped enforce it by keeping foreign powers out of the New World, rumors spread that a group of British Merchants tried to strike a deal with Mexico offering $5,000,000 for Texas which would be held under the protection of Great Britain. Ultimately, nothing came of the British Merchants offer but the rumor was proved to be true -- a clear violation of the Monroe Doctrine. Allowing Spain to re-establish control of its former colonies would have cut Great Britain from its profitable trade with the region. For that reason, Great Britain's Foreign Minister George Canning proposed to the United States that they mutually declare and enforce a policy of separating the new world from the old. The United States resisted a joint statement because of the recent memory of The War of 1812, leading to the unilateral statement

However, the immediate provocation was the Russian Ukase of 1821 asserting rights to the Northwest and forbidding non-Russian ships from approaching the coast.