Navagation Bar		The Monroe Doctrine, written by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams in 1823, stated that the European powers had no right to further colonize the Western Hemisphere.  The United States was concerned with Europe’s hostility toward democracy in the west, and the British were interested in protecting its own benefits in the Latin American Republic.  Hence, a joint agreement was proposed.  The United States, following the advice of former president George Washington, chose to avoid “entangling alliances"1 and created the Monroe Doctrine.         The Monroe Doctrine was aimed most specifically at Russia, but it referred to Europe as well.  It stated that the European powers would be allowed to keep already existing colonies in Latin America, yet no new colonies could be obtained.  In his speech to Congress, James Monroe clearly asserted that the era of colonization was over for the European powers.                  Although the immediate impact of the Monroe Doctrine was trivial due to a small army and navy, it eventually became the “cornerstone of U.S. Foreign Policy,"1 and had a very strong influence in the second half of the 19th century, and all of the 20th century.  1.)  William J. Michalski “The New AP Study Guide”
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