Why the Monroe Doctrine?
- Holy Alliance
- Russia, Prussia, Austria
- Concert of Europe after Congress of Vienna 1815 = restoration, reaction, return to tradition
- Metternich = "sublime nonsense"
- Czar Alexander I mystical, yet expansionist = Balkans, Persia
- Castlereagh preferred "splendid isolation"
- Troppeau 1820 adopted principle of intervention to put down revolutions, e.g. of the Carbonari (secret society of "charcoal-burners" in Italy, Spain, France, led by elite aristocrats like Gen. Pepe who sought to overthrow tyranny, such as in the Neapolitan revolt and the Spanish revolt that deposed Ferdinand VII)
- Czar Alexander feared Decembrists in his army (young Russian officers that had been to Paris and learned how backward Russsia was) and feared revolt in Croatia and the Balkans
- Verona 1820 - French army against Spanish Col. Riego
- Verona 1822 - Metternich feared the rise of a Greece Empire led by Ypsilanti who had defeated the Turks
- South American Republics
- Clay's speech March 24, 1818 - "We behold there a spectacle still more interesting and sublime -- the glorious spectacle of 18 millions of people, struggling to burst their chains and to be free."
- But Adams urged delay recognition until Spain's chances "utterly desperate"
- Recognition bill defeated in House 45-115 on March 30, 1818
- Adams-Onis Treaty signed Feb. 22, 1819 - but Spain delayed ratification
- Ferdinand VII had failed to restore liberal Constitution of 1812 until faced with a rebellion by Col. Riego in 1820, lost power to liberals until 1823 when he was restored by a French army after the battle of the Trocadero Aug. 23, 1823
- Senate again ratified Adams-Onis Treaty Feb. 19, 1821, following news of Liberal ratification in Spain
- Battle of Carabobo June 1821 - Bolivar won in Columbia & Venezuela
- Monroe signed recognition bill May 4, 1822 - U.S. first to recognize
- U.S. committed to defend independence of new republics, but also selfish motive seeking to expand U.S. sphere of influence over South America, and also economic motive seeking to take trade of South America away from Europe
- Russian threat to Oregon
- Vitus Bering 1741, Russian-American Fur Co. 1799, Fort Ross 1812
- Russian treatment of natives was brutal - 10,000 of 16,000 Aleuts died in the Aleutian Chain of 200 islands (not Inuit Eskimos)
- Czar's imperial ukase Sept. 1821 due to 1819 Transcont. Treaty - no foreign ships within 100 miles of Alaska coast north of 51-degree line at Vancouver Island
- Adams gave June 1823 instructions to U.S. minister in Russia - no colonization
- public opinion apathetic; even Pres. Monroe willing to grant a boundary at the 55-degree line; but Adams saw importance of NW coast
- Canning's proposal
- Castlereagh cuts throat with pen-knife Aug. 12, 1822
- Canning proposal to Rush Aug. 20, 1823 = dual pledge of no transfer
- but no recognition of republics
- Canning-Polignac agreement Oct. 9 - no need of U.S.
- Adams' boldness
- Like Erving Note, Adams sees opportunity for boldness
Negotiations of 1823
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