Monroe Doctrine In The 1800s

Beginning in 1800s America began a mission of western expansion. Americans knew that they wanted to expand and grow. The Monroe Doctrine was a foreign policy that regarded domination in the America’s, issued in 1823. This policy said that future efforts by the European nations to colonize land and interfere on American soil will be viewed as an act of aggression. This would require U.S intervention. Many Historians felt that the Monroe Doctrine enabled Americans to move west because no other countries would try to occupy it. This is rather false because Americans have been craving to expand out west way before the Monroe Doctrine was issued. One example of how Americans wanted to expand way before the Monroe Doctrine was written was the
Jefferson believed in Continental Destiny which was our right to expand across the entire continent and move out west. Because of our thirst for expansion there were many wars that we got ourselves into that could’ve been avoided, but it also expanded our territory massively. The Louisiana Purchase is one of the best examples of how Americans wanted to grow and develop. In the early 1800s American farmers began to settle in the Mississippi River Valley. The territory at that time known as Louisiana was under the control of the French, whose leader was Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon wanted to take over the world. In order to feed his army he need land to grow crops and feed his slaves down in the Caribbean area. The slaves ended up having a revolution and gaining control of their land. Since Napoleon lost all his slaves, he decided that he didn’t need the Louisiana land anymore. Napoleon need money because of his war with England, he need to sell the land fast. When James Monroe went to France and offered about $7.5 Million for the Louisiana Port area, Napoleon immediately offered the whole land for $15 Mil. Jefferson jumped on the purchase, and in 1803 he doubled the size of the United States. Jefferson proceeded to then get Lewis and Clark against to explore this area. In Document C, we can see a map that shows the Route that Lewis and Clark took in 1804 - 1806 in order to explore the area.
At this point some Americans were growing tired of gaining more land and they found that this was necessary. “That the annexation of the whole of Mexico to the United States would be fatal to this government, whoever may doubt it, we are well convinced” (Doc. F). Americans were beginning to expand even more and more trying to get a huge territory. We end up going to war with Mexicans, winning. In Document I when see a picture comparison between the Mexican Eagle before the war which was a strong and mighty eagle in contrast to the Mexican Eagle after the war, plucked to the skin. In Document G, we are presented a cartoon displaying how some anti-Manifest Destiny. In the picture President Polk threw up on Jackson being he has eaten too many “States”. Although having pride in your country is a good thing, but there is a moment where we have to say enough is