The Monroe doctrine stated two main things: first of all, that the United States would not tolerate European intervention in American affairs (including Latin America). Second, it stated that the United States was not going to intervene in European affairs. When the doctrine was issued in 1823, most of the continent was independent, and the United States wanted to keep it that way. Although the doctrine was not taken seriously when issued, it was mostly respected, and it also proved effective in keeping the United States out of European affairs.
