The '''Monroe Doctrine''' was a declaration made by President [[James Monroe]] to [[Congress]] on December 2, 1823, claiming that the Western Hemisphere was now "off limits" to [[Europe]]an powers by saying that no new colonies could be established in the Americas. It also stated that the US would remain neutral in affairs between these powers and their existing colonies, unless these conflicts occured in the Americas. | The '''Monroe Doctrine''' was a declaration made by President [[James Monroe]] to [[Congress]] on December 2, 1823, claiming that the Western Hemisphere was now "off limits" to [[Europe]]an powers by saying that no new colonies could be established in the Americas. It also stated that the US would remain neutral in affairs between these powers and their existing colonies, unless these conflicts occured in the Americas. |