The surprising history of the Monroe Doctrine
CBS News••world
Key Points:
- The Monroe Doctrine, a 202-year-old statement by President James Monroe warning European powers to stay out of the Americas, has recently gained renewed attention in U.S. foreign policy discussions.
- Historian Jay Sexton explains that Monroe's original message was not a formal law but a presidential statement, later used to justify U.S. interventions in Latin America, including the Mexican-American War and the "Banana Wars."
- President Theodore Roosevelt expanded the doctrine with his corollary, advocating U.S. preemptive actions in the Caribbean to prevent European interference, leading to prolonged military occupations to protect American business interests.
- The doctrine fell out of favor after World War II but was revived by President Trump in the context of recent actions
