Let’s transport ourselves back to the early 1820s and what was happening in the regions south of the United States. Any memories from history class popping up? Do you remember the name Father Hidalgo or Simon Bolivar? Did your studies cover the revolutions in Central and South America? As is always true, world events impact our nation and our nation’s governmental policies.

So how did the revolutions in the Spanish-controlled nations in our hemisphere change American foreign policy? You’ll recognize this story…

James Monroe’s policies regarding Florida — and its eventual purchase — were only one aspect of the issues confronting the Monroe administration and its highly skilled secretary of state, John Quincy Adams. By the early 1800s, Spain’s control of its colonies was diminishing and revolution was brewing. Congress and the president were uncertain regarding their “official” reaction. While many reviewed the revolts against Spain as another chapter in the fight for liberty, equality, and humanity, others feared that adopting a position supporting the revolutions might draw the nation into an international conflict on the heels of the recent War of 1812. But taking no position might encourage Spain to recruit allies in its attempt to restore order and regain domination — and that possibility was truthfully frightening. If the United States had one prevailing image, it was as the former colonies that had defeated the strongest empire in the world — not just once, but twice.

How could the United States, the country that symbolized freedom, stand by and possibly allow lands that had tasted freedom to be reclaimed by an absent ruler who had more interest in the natural resources and products of its colonies than its people and their families and dreams?

At the same time, how might the U.S. avoid armed conflict while supporting its neighbors? It’s the story of every playground rumble: the U.S. needed a strong buddy to “have its back.” And you’ll never guess who that buddy will be — unless you remember your history.

Yes, Great Britain stepped forward and offered to ink a joint U.S.-British declaration that warned against European intervention in the Western Hemisphere. Monroe considered his options. If the policy was coauthored, it would probably lessen any possibility of military reaction, especially since Spain was in a continual slide from greatness and would not want to challenge Britain. But then how did that scenario impact the United States’s image?

It’s Adams to the rescue again. The secretary of state convinced President Monroe that the United States should issue its own policy.

On December 2, 1823, Monroe used his annual address to Congress — today, we know that annual speech as the State of the Union — to issue a foreign policy statement in three parts. First, Monroe reminded Congress and the international press that would carry his written speech that the United States had adopted a policy of neutrality regarding European wars and arenas of conflict. Second, Monroe issued a statement — perhaps a veiled threat — that the United States would not accept recolonization of any country in the Western Hemisphere by its former European nation, but would also not interfere in the administration of any existing colonies. His final statement, crafted by Adams, announced that the Western Hemisphere was no longer open to new colonization. That statement was not aimed at Spain, France, or Great Britain but at the European nation that was attempting to encroach from the west — Russia. Adams, experienced by his time in Russia as a diplomat, understood Russia’s desire to expand its empire into the Northwest Pacific realm and wanted to contain Russia in its homeland.

Interestingly, the policy statement, not known as the “Monroe Doctrine” until a generation later, had few teeth. What would the U.S. do if one of the European nations challenged the policy? Thankfully, Britain’s silent support and its Royal Navy provided the deterrent that was needed.

The Monroe Doctrine was our nation’s first significant foreign policy statement, and it reiterated the feeling of most citizens — that the right to self-determination was a gift, an endowment, from the Creator. The United States had stepped forward as the protector of the Western Hemisphere, gaining prominence on the international stage. Monroe believed that freedom needed protection, and that role fell naturally to the United States.

As Monroe prepared to leave the presidency, the field of candidates for his job became crowded. A political brawl was about to break out.