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The primary figure during this period was Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. He was one of the best Secretaries of State the US ever employed. He appreciated and understood how Europe operated, and he was a Nationalist.
Spain had become militarily and economically weak, and the costs of maintaining Florida were high. The US acquired florida in Three stages:
President Monroe authorized General Jackson to carry out an expedition into Florida, after escaped slaves, criminals, and natives who were using it as a staging area for attacks on the US. It went further than that, resulting in Jackson's capture and occupation of Florida.
The British and Spanish demanded compensation for their losses and wanted Jackson punished. But Adams defended Jackson's action. If the Spanish could not secure their own border, then America would have to do it for them. He then demanded the whole of Florida from Spain. He did, however, recall Jackson.
East and West Florida ceded to the US
Western Boundary of Louisiana Clearly Defined
The US gave up its claims on Texas.
Wars of independence were being fought throughout Latin America. While the US wanted to recognize these newly independent states, they postponed their recognition until after the Florida treaty was completed.
The Monroe doctrine was deigned to deal with the Latin American Independenece Movement. It protected the pure new world against the corruption of the old world and increased US security at no cost.
Isolationists see this as a doctrine of non-involvement and non-intervention. It isolated the US from world problems.
Interventionists argue that this is an active, positive, vigorous policy within the western hemisphere. It assumes responsibility for keeping peace and security in the Americas.
While it comes out during this period, it will not get any serious attention or enforcement until President Polk uses it in the 1840's. Roosevelt's Corollary and hemispheric defence or pan-American defence are all added to it later.
The Concert of Viena (1815)
Under Austrian leadership, several monarchies came up with "the concert of Europe" after the defeat of Napoleon. This was a union of conservative monarchies to supress revolutions and maintain the balance of Power. It began as a Quadruple alliance, including Prussia, Russia, Austria, and England, eventually becoming a Quintuple alliance when the French joined in 1818.
They got deeply involved in anti-revolutionary activities. The French sent an expedition into Spain to restore the Spanish Monarchy, and the Spanish planned to recolonize Latin America with French assistance.
British Fear of French Intervention in Latin America
The British did not want the French gaining superiority in both Europe and Latin America. They decided to use the US to maintain the balance of power.
George Canning's Proposal (August 1823)
The British offered to make a joint declaration with the US of a non-colonization policy in Latin America in order to prevent European intervention among the newly independent states of that region. The US responded by asking Britain to recognize all the independent Republics in Latin America. Britain refused.
President Monroe's Message to Congress (December, 1823)
Secretary of state Adams did not like the British proposal at all. He did not want to give the British the credit for Leadership in Latin America. He wanted the Americas closed to the British as well as the rest of Europe. He also saw that a non-colonization policy would also limit US expansion, which could not be allowed. Furthermore, he had intelligence that the French were not going to send any expedition. Finally, he knew perfectly well that the British were capable of stopping the French and Spanish alone if they really wanted to.
Adams came up with the proposal called the Monroe Doctrine to Americanize the British Proposal and take Leadership in Latin America.
Non -Colonization
Prevented recolonization or new colonization in Latin America, exempting the US. Targeted against Russia, France, and Spain.
Non-Intervention and the Doctrine of Two Hemispheres.
This solved the problems of Spain and Russia. This non-colonization doctrine dealt with the problem of the Russian dispute the Oregon territory.
Insisted that Europe and the US employ a hands-off policy in each other's hemispheres.
Unilateral Defensive Doctrine
Left open the possibility of US expansion.
Most of Britain ignored the announcement of this doctrine. Only Britain had a serious reaction.
Polignac Memorandum (October 1823)
Canning was somewhat upset at the American theft of his idea and his thunder. But, about two months earlier, the French and English had come to a secret agreement, disclaiming any French intention to invade Spanish America. The objective of stopping French intervention had been achieved, and the American declaration was nothing more than a crude and impolite afterthought.
This series of events did result in Canning and Adams becoming arch enemies, however.
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