Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
What does Theodore Roosevelt propose in his 1904 message to
congress that became known as the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
and why does he believe the Monroe Doctrine no longer suffices? How does
Roosevelt respond to charges of land hunger and imperialism? How does he
justify the expansion of America’s international role?
The Monroe Doctrine had been expressed by President James
Monroe in 1823. In it he declared that European nations should no longer
interfere in affairs in North and South America. Specifically this applied to
European interference in independent nations rather than colonial possessions.
The timing of his declaration infuriated the Europeans because he chose to make
this declaration only a few months after numerous South American countries
declared their independence.
