Monroe Doctrine

       Though the US seems to have a more recent history of meddling in business that doesn't exactly affect them, there was one point in time when their policy was the opposite. After the many wars fought in Central and South America to gain freedom, and following the creation of the Principle of Intervention, James Monroe created an idea that later became known as the Monroe Doctrine. In his letter to European leaders, he said that while Europe had the Principle of Intervention, which made it so that any attempt at making a Revolution would be crushed by every country that could get there in time, America would never interfere with wars that don't directly concern them. He also stated that any attempt at retaking the territories in the Western Hemisphere that had recently gained independence would be considered as a threat to their security and treated as such. As can be seen by watching the news just about any day, this is not an idea that America has followed very well.

       The news article below is a satire on America's work against ISIS, a radical Muslim group now threatening the Middle East. The Middle East is nearly half a world away from us, and ISIS is not nearly large enough to threaten anyone not in their direct vicinity. By Monroe's logic, the US ought to stay out of such a war. However, the US has taken a leadership role in the defeating of ISIS. However, in another way the Monroe Doctrine would say that we should help the neighboring countries keep their freedom. So it would make more sense to help neighboring countries with defense without going on offense. There are more than just this one example of Americans not following the Monroe Doctrine, proof that our views are most definitely changing, though for better or worse only time will tell.