As the United States grew, Americans became concerned about the nations relationship with Europe. They wanted to stay out of European wars, and they didn't want Europe trying to control America.
President James Monroe dealt with these concerns in his address to the US Congress on December 2, 1823. The address became known as the Monroe Doctrine. The doctrine was one of the first presidential documents to outline a foreign policy.
In his address, President Monroe stated four things:
The United States will not take part in European conflicts unless provoked.
The United States would not attempt to drive European nations from any colonies they already had in North or South America.
European nations cannot create any new colonies in the Americas. If any European nation tried to invade or conquer any nation in North or South America, the United States would consider that an act of aggression.
President Monroe wanted to protect U.S. independence by limiting European influence on the continents of North and South America. The Monroe Doctrine let European countries know that United States would protect itself.
It also gave Americans a greater sense of their own identity as an independent nation. Even though the United States was still a young nation, it had become a major player on the world stage. Monroe told the world that the United States would defend its interest.