Find and read “Monroe Doctrine: December 2, 1823.”

Then, write up an analysis of the Monroe Doctrine as a primary source by addressing the three topics listed below. Each topic has a list of leading questions. You are not required to answer each question, but should use them as a starting point as you formulate your analysis. 

Topics:

  1. Author - Who is the author? What do you know about the author's social/cultural background? How could the author's background influence his writing? What was the author trying to accomplish by writing this document?

  2. Audience - Who was the author's intended audience? How would the intended audience influence the author's writing? Did the actual audience differ from the intended audience? What impact did this document have on the audience?

  3. Context - What other events were taking place around the time this document was written? What impact did this document have on the time period? What historical context is necessary to understand why this document was written? What does this document teach you about the society/culture that produced it? In what ways does this document reflect the time period in which it was written? (Think about how the document would have differed if written during a different time period.)