A Level History - America - Practice Exam

What was the primary intention of the Monroe Doctrine?

1. The US would engage in European wars as needed

2. The US aimed to colonize South America

3. US policy was to avoid European colonization of the American continents

4. The US would support European empires

The correct answer is: US policy was to avoid European colonization of the American continents

The primary intention of the Monroe Doctrine was to establish a clear policy that the United States would not tolerate further European colonization or interference in the affairs of the nations in the Americas. Declared by President James Monroe in 1823, this doctrine was a significant assertion of U.S. foreign policy, emphasizing that the Western Hemisphere was off-limits to new European colonization. The key focus was on maintaining the sovereignty and independence of emerging nations in Latin America, paving the way for U.S. influence while discouraging European powers from exerting control or re-establishing colonies, particularly as many Latin American nations were gaining independence from Spain and Portugal at that time. This stance also reflected an evolving sense of American nationalism and a desire to assert the United States as a dominant power in the Western Hemisphere.