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Was the Monroe Doctrine a continuation of the ideals espoused by George Washington in his farewell address concerning 'entangling alliances' or was it a departure from those ideals?

User Theolodus
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Final answer:

The Monroe Doctrine continued George Washington's ideals of avoiding European entanglements but also marked a departure by establishing an American sphere of influence. John Quincy Adams played a key role in shaping the doctrine.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Monroe Doctrine was a significant policy declaration by President James Monroe in 1823, which stated that the United States would oppose any European interference in the affairs of the nations in the Western Hemisphere. This policy was partly a continuation of the ideals espoused by George Washington in his farewell address, particularly the idea of avoiding 'entangling alliances' with European powers.

The issuing of the Monroe Doctrine, however, did also mark a departure from Washington's ideals in that it asserted an American sphere of influence over the Western Hemisphere. This was a move towards a more assertive foreign policy stance, distancing the U.S. from Washington's strict non-interventionist stance.

User Xiaoyu
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