Monroe Doctrine

Audience

The Monroe Doctrine was primarily aimed at the European powers that had colonial designs on the Americas. Spain was the immediate target of such warnings because of its desire to reclaim its former territories, despite the independence movements sweeping through South America. Russia, which had tentative claims in the Pacific Northwest, as well as France, which had ambitions in South and Central America, were also intended audiences. Britain, which wished to stop the expansion efforts of the Spanish and French, was a sympathetic recipient. Finally, the American public, the press, and Congress all responded enthusiastically to this declaration of American neutrality and European nonintervention.