Monroe Doctrine: Resources

Websites

The Monroe Doctrine at the National Archives

You can see an actual handwritten version of the Monroe Doctrine, as well as a transcript and general information from the U.S. National Archives, right here.

The Monroe Doctrine and Related Texts at the Library of Congress

In addition to a general summary of the Monroe Doctrine, the Library of Congress provides links to other primary sources and useful (trustworthy) sites about the text.

Movie or TV Productions

1939 Short Film: "The Monroe Doctrine"

Apparently, there was a twenty-two minute film telling the story of the Monroe Doctrine made in 1939. Who knew? It was cleverly titled…The Monroe Doctrine.

Articles and Interviews

1863 Article about the French Takeover of Mexico

This admittedly lengthy article from the then-New York Ledger was published around the time that the French monarch decided to put a French emperor on the throne of Mexico. It's a fascinating look at how prevalent the Monroe Doctrine and its policies were later in the 19th century.

Long Echoes of War and Speech: Woodrow Wilson, World War I and American Idealism

Okay, so this article is actually about Woodrow Wilson, not James Monroe. The Monroe Doctrine comes up, though, because what the article is focusing on is Wilson having to shift away from America's traditional isolationist policy when WWI came around. The article nicely illustrates the bigger picture, to show you the Monroe Doctrine's effect for nearly a century, then how it had to change to work in world of the 20th century.

Interview with Historian Walter LeFeber (PBS)

LeFeber is discussing Teddy Roosevelt, but the first part of his response is all about how TR used and changed the Monroe Doctrine, and why that change was significant.

Video

The Monroe Doctrine—A Brief Explanation

A guy who calls himself HipHughes (good name, or best name?) explains the Monroe Doctrine pretty well in under two minutes.

Audio

A Reading of the Monroe Doctrine

In case you want to hear someone read the Monroe Doctrine aloud. (Sorry, it's not actually Monroe himself.)

Images

Published Version of the Monroe Doctrine (December 2nd, 1823)

Like we do today, Monroe's entire speech was published immediately in the newspapers. Here's what it looked like.

Samuel B. Morse, Portrait of James Monroe (1819)

This portrait of the president hangs in the Blue Room of the White House.

Philip Haas, Daguerreotype of John Quincy Adams (1843)

Believe it or not, we have some photos of the man who was so influential in the ideas of the Monroe Doctrine.

Sidney Morse, Map from An Atlas of the United States (1823)

This map shows the geographic makeup of the U.S. at the time the Monroe Doctrine was given, including the recent additions of Missouri and Maine, as well as unincorporated territories like Oregon. He even labels known areas inhabited by Native American tribes, although you'll have to zoom in to read any of it.