Perhaps being great is overrated. James Monroe may never be considered a great president; Instead “he must be numbered among the more useful and the more successful.”(Malone 92). His most famous work is the Monroe Doctrine. His principles of protecting freedom outlined in this doctrine are regaining importance today. Monroe’s focus on homeland defense spans from his part as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, to his Doctrine, which stresses the defense of the entire Western Hemisphere.
The Monroe Doctrine, which was announced to the world in a state of the union address by James Monroe in 1823, stated that any European intervention in the Western Hemisphere would be considered as an attack on the United States. He was attempting to prevent European nations from having the power to establish colonies in areas surrounding America (“Monroe” int.). When he developed the Doctrine, he was reacting to four distinct problems: how to handle the status of the republics in South America which had recently gained independence from Spain, disputes between England and Russia over rights to the land in the Oregon territory, European intentions and policies dealing with colonization of the Americas, and more specifically Great Britain’s feelings on colonization in the Western Hemisphere. All of these problems were occurring in and around the United States at this time (Reingold 105). However, although the problems lingering over the United States may have been the obvious reasons for which he formed the Monroe Doctrine, his underlying focus was simply on protecting the “peace and security of the United States.”(Donovan 9).
Despite the many interpretations other nations embrace, Americans have always interpreted the Doctrine to imply “America for the Americans” (Donovan 14). Its design was such, to defend the freedoms existing in the United States for all “Americans” not only those living within the nation’s borders. Monroe did not develop the Doctrine with the intention of intervening at will in other nations. Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes spoke of the Doctrine saying, “[It] is not a policy of aggression; it is a policy of self-defense… The achievements of the century have not altered the scope of the Doctrine nor changed its basis. It still remains an assertion of the principle of national security…”(Donovan 186). The Monroe Doctrine allowed for necessary intervention, but was intended to be a Doctrine of prevention instead. However, the principles outlined by Monroe demonstrate how sometimes the “best defense of freedom is an offense…”(Rink 178).
Numerous presidents have made use of this “offense” in very important situations. President James K. Polk used it the 1840’s to keep Europe from colonizing the land that now makes up Oregon and California. Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson used the Monroe Doctrine when dealing with the threat of a communist takeover in Cuba (Rink 175). In 1962 Kennedy issued a warning to the Soviets against their installation of missiles in Cuba (Reinfeld 108). Johnson also used an interpretation of the Doctrine when he deployed troops in the Dominican Republic (Rink 175).
The impact of Monroe’s Doctrine was not fully felt when his speech was first delivered. His commitment to defending the United States and her freedoms has far exceeded his lifetime. Through the years the Doctrine “has meant different things to different people at different times in different places.” It has been flexible and allowed for change over the years (Donovan 9). Yet, many people feel that the Doctrine is no longer relevant in today’s society. In reality however, its principles of homeland defense are very much alive. As the years have elapsed, the dangers against society and America have become greater and more complex as technology has grown. Protecting peace has “become the President’s most urgent task.”(Reinfeld 109).
Now in 2002 George W. Bush, president of the United States, is defending its borders by fighting an undeclared war in Afghanistan; a war whose sole purpose is to remove the threats of terrorism. Preventing terrorism from entering the borders of the United States may be different than preventing Europe from colonizing the Western Hemisphere, but the theories behind the two scenarios are very much the same. The theories spoken of above are those outlined by James Monroe in the Monroe Doctrine.
From preventing the colonization of Oregon, to protecting the United States from the threat of communism, and now to protecting it from forces of terror, the principles of homeland defense found in the Monroe Doctrine have served their purpose. James Monroe’s words, “If they’ll leave us alone, we’ll leave them alone. If they don’t leave us alone, watch out.”(Rink 16), sound very similar to recent words spoken by George Bush. In Bush’s statement after the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, he said, “we will do whatever is necessary to protect America and Americans.” (“President” int.). These words are almost identical to those which outlined the Monroe Doctrine. Today citizens of the United States still understand the importance of homeland defense and they still believe that America should be for Americans.
James Monroe first demonstrated his commitment to defending the United States as a soldier in the Revolutionary Army. He will be most remembered for his development of the Monroe Doctrine during his presidency. In our society today, long after his death, which was on the most fitting day of the fifty-fifth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (“James” int.), Monroe’s philosophies of protecting freedom for all Americans are still in existence. The United States now has an Office of Homeland Security, something not directly related to Monroe’s Doctrine but very much in line with its purpose. Monroe’s commitment to homeland defense, through his Monroe Doctrine, has made more of an impact on the history of the United States than he could have ever imagined.
When he developed his Doctrine he meant to find a solution for the problems facing the United States at the time of his presidency and to promote homeland defense. It is very likely that he never understood the magnitude of what his Doctrine meant or how much it would elapse and conform to each generation thus allowing numerous presidents to make use of it. Monroe may not be remembered as being a great president, but he will be remembered for the great usefulness and success of his Doctrine, which forever portrays his commitment to homeland defense. Of the Monroe Doctrine a British writer once said, “The Monroe Doctrine is like God or religion to a small child-something fearful, something to inspire awe, something if necessary, to fight for.”(Donovan 18).
Donovan, Frank. Mr. Monroe’s Message: The Story of the Monroe Doctrine. New York: Dodd, Mead and Co., 1963.
“James Monroe: 5th President of the United States.” Virtualogy.com. 21 Mar. 2002. <http://www.jamesmonroe.net/>.
Malone, Dumas. Ed. Dictionary of American Biography: VII Mills to Platner. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1934.
“Monroe Doctrine.” Yahoo!Reference: The Britannica Concise. 21 Mar. 2002. <http://education.yahoo.com/search/be?lb=t&p=url%3Am/monroe_doctrine>.
“President Bush 9/11/2001.” September 11 News.com. 26 Mar. 2002. <http://www.september11news.com/PresidentBush.htm>.
Reinfeld, Fred. The Biggest Job in the World: The American Presidency. New York: Thomas Y. Cromwell Co., 1964.
Rink, Paul. In Defense of Freedom: The Story of the Monroe Doctrine. New York: Julian Messner, 1968.
