The Monroe Doctrine

In the early 1800's, countries in Latin America were winning their independence from Spain and Portugal. At the same time, Russia was establishing colonies in the Pacific Northwest. As you have learned, gaining independence can leave a country weak and vulnerable. President James Monroe worried that other European nations might take advantage of the situation by taking over the exposed Latin America causing a threat to our own national security. President Monroe issued the Monroe Doctrine in 1823 which forbid further colonization in the Americas, and that any attempts to do so would be met with hostile force. This document set a major precedent in foreign relations. From this point on, America will protect weaker countries when it is in our own national interest.

Questions to consider:

Using the Monroe Doctrine and our current foreign policy as a reference, do the strong have a moral obligation to protect the weak? If so, to what lengths are the strong obligated?

Sectionalism

Throughout the early 1800s many events were foreshadowing the upcoming Civil War. These events were slowly tearing our nation apart. Sectionalism is the idea of people remaining loyal to one region as opposed to the country as a whole. One of the most famous examples of sectionalism during this time was the application for statehood by Missouri. Missouri wanted to enter the union as a slave state which would upset the balance of the number of free and slave states. People living in the North were opposed, and of course the South was in favor. It took the Missouri Compromise of 1820 to settle the sectional tension between the North and South. It stated that Missouri would be entered as a slave state, and Maine would enter as a free state to maintain the balance.


Questions to Consider:

What are some sectional issues in our country today? How do the different regions of the country feel about those issues?

Industrial Revolution

We just learned about the Industrial Revolution and the many inventions and innovations that came from that time. In today's America, things are changing at an alarming rate. Many new inventions and technological breakthroughs have made our lives easier and more convenient. Cell phones, Ipods, the Internet, hybrid cars, and so on have had great impacts on our society.

Questions to Consider:

Think about the many technological advancements in our history. Most have been beneficial, but do all technological advancements benefit society? In what ways would an invention cause a negative societal impact?