Question

explain why president monroe and secretary of state john quincy adams pursued a more aggressive foreign policy​

Answer 1

Monroe and Adams's aggressive foreign policy, known as Diplomatic Nationalism, aimed to expand U.S. trade, territorial growth, and to combat European influence in Latin America, culminating in the Monroe Doctrine which asserted American hegemony in the Western Hemisphere.

Step-by-step explanation:

President James Monroe and Secretary of State John Quincy Adams pursued a more aggressive foreign policy reflecting a period known as Diplomatic Nationalism. This approach was rooted in the belief that the United States had a unique virtue and a divine right to expand. These beliefs propelled Adams and Monroe to take steps to promote foreign trade, pursue continental expansion, and lessen the influence of European powers in Latin America, with a specific focus on protecting emerging republics from European colonization and intervention.

In the face of potential European intervention specifically by the Holy Alliance seeking to assert control over Latin American countries, Monroe was initially considering a joint declaration with Britain. However, Adams convinced him that a unilateral approach would be more dignified. In 1823, they issued the Monroe Doctrine, a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy, which opposed any new European colonization in the Western Hemisphere and declared that any attempt to extend European political influence into the Americas would be considered a threat to U.S. peace and security.

Answer 2

The idea of the exclusive status and dominant role of the United States in the Western Hemisphere arose long before Monroe addressed Congress. Its premises can be found in George Washington's Farewell Letter and in Thomas Jefferson's first inaugural address, warning against close political association with the European powers.

By 1822, in Latin America, only Bolivia remained under Spanish colonial rule. All other countries have proclaimed their independence. Also, several islands in the Caribbean, such as Cuba and Puerto Rico, were under Spanish control. At the Verona Congress in late 1822, European powers supported the Holy Alliance’s plans to restore Spanish rule over the Latin American colonies.

Such a development of events definitely did not suit Britain, fearing for its dominant position in Latin American markets. British Foreign Secretary George Cunning invited the United States to adopt a joint declaration on coordination of efforts to counter the future colonization of Latin America. Monroe initially reacted positively to the British proposal; he was also supported by former presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. However, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams insisted on the advisability of making a unilateral statement, and his opinion ultimately prevailed.

In general, in international affairs, Monroe and Secretary of State John Quincy Adams advocated a policy of reconciliation with Britain and an expansion policy against the Spanish Empire. Under 1819 Adams-Onis Treaty with Spain, the United States obtained Florida and established its western border with New Spain. In 1823, Monroe declared that the United States would not accept any European intervention in the countries of North and South America which recently gained independence through the Monroe Doctrine, that became a milestone in American foreign policy.

Step-by-step explanation: