Which of them will love him more? – Luke 7:42
During his annual address to Congress, on this day in 1823, President James Monroe introduced the “Monroe Doctrine.” This plan, largely crafted by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, prohibited European involvement in the American hemisphere and affirmed U.S. neutrality regarding future European conflicts. The roots of this doctrine are traced to European attempts to regain influence in the Americas in the 1820s. Russia sought to expand in North America (Alaska), and there were concerns about a potential resurgence of Spanish colonial power in Central and South America. Great Britain also sought a significant role in the Americas. While the U.S. invoked the doctrine in the mid-1800s, the nation did not engage in armed conflict with a European power over its interference in the Western Hemisphere until the Spanish-American War in 1898. The doctrine’s neutral stance remained a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy until two World Wars broke out in succession.
As the Lord leads, pray with us…
- For Secretary of State Blinken to seek God’s wisdom as he heads the State Department and implements the president’s foreign policies.
- For senators and representatives in Congress to be discerning in their allocations of aid to foreign allies.
