Monroe Doctrine Presentation created by Robert Martinez Primary Content Source: The American Promise Images as cited.

In 1816, U.S. troops led by General Andrew Jackson invaded Spanish Florida in search of Seminole Indians, harboring escaped slaves. www.xtimeline.com

Once there Jackson declared himself the commander of northern Florida, demonstrating his power in 1818 by executing two British men who he claimed were dangerous enemies. roebuckclasses.com

In asserting rule over the territory, and surely in executing the two British subjects on Spanish land, Jackson had gone too far. Privately, President Monroe was distressed and pondered court-martialing Jackson, prevented only by Jackson’s immense popularity as the hero of the battle of New Orleans. Battle of New Orleans

Instead, John Quincy Adams, the secretary of state, negotiated with Spain the Adams-Onis Treaty, which delivered Florida to the United States in 1819. In exchange, the Americans agreed to abandon any claim in Texas or Cuba. .tamu.edu

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Southerners viewed this as a large concession, having eyed both places as potential acquisitions for future slave states. oncoursesystems.com

Spain at the moment was preoccupied with the colonies in South America Spain at the moment was preoccupied with the colonies in South America. One after another, Chile, Columbia, Peru, and finally Mexico declared themselves independent in the early 1820s. banderasnews.com

To discourage Spain or France from re-conquering these colonies, Monroe formulated a declaration of principles on South America. Incorporated into his annual message to Congress in December 1823, the declaration became known as the Monroe Doctrine. en.wikipedia.org

The president warned that “the American Continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European power.”

Any attempt to interfere in the Western Hemisphere would be regarded as “the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition towards the United States.” In exchange for noninterference by Europeans, Monroe pledged that the United States would stay out of European struggles. fineartamerica.com

At that time, Monroe did not intend his statement to lay a foundation for U.S. intervention in South America. Indeed, the small American navy could not realistically defend Chile or Peru against Spain or France. apushcanvas.pbworks.com

The doctrine was Monroe’s idea of sound foreign policy, but it did not have the force of law. fineartamerica.com