"When James Monroe gave a speech to the nation on December 2, 1823 which would go down in history as the Monroe Doctrine the United States was still a relatively young nation, having declared its independence in 1776. Concerned about his country's sovereignty, Monroe warned the European powers against expanding on the American continent and to refrain from all colonization efforts there."
"On the other side of the US border, Canada was still a British colony at the time. On the southern border, Mexico had belonged to the Spanish crown until two years earlier. In the northwest lay what is now Alaska, which belonged to Russia. By 1823, some South American states had already gained independence from Spain or Portugal, while others were still fighting to achieve it."
James Monroe, the fifth US president and last of the Founding Fathers' generation, fought in the American War of Independence. On December 2, 1823 he proclaimed the Monroe Doctrine, warning European powers against further expansion and colonization in the Americas to safeguard US sovereignty. The United States remained a young nation after 1776, surrounded by former or existing colonies: Canada under Britain, Mexico recently under Spain, and Alaska held by Russia. Some South American states had gained independence while others still fought. The 1803 Louisiana Purchase doubled US territory and enabled future westward expansion.
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