Can you identify the thesis statement in this essay? 
	The Monroe Doctrine, which comes from parts of President James Monroe’s 1832 Address to Congress, was a cornerstone of American foreign policy aimed at dismantling European colonial ambitions on the Western Hemisphere. This pivotal doctrine was set against a backdrop of revolutionary change and instability, where nascent republics in Central and South America endeavor to free themselves from European influences while the United States worked to solidify its own sovereignty. The Monroe Doctrine successfully prevented European recolonization in the Western Hemisphere because it established clear non-colonization and non-intervention principles enforced by British naval power.
	The Napoleonic Wars and the subsequent efforts of the Congress of Vienna to restore and stabilize monarchical regimes in Europe marked the early 19th century. European powers, including Spain and France, aspired to regain control over their colonies in Latin America, which had recently declared independence (Watt, 2021). At the same time, Russia’s expansionist activities along the west coast of North America, and British economic interests in maintaining open trade routes, contributed to a complex geopolitical environment (Department of State, 2017).
	The emerging threat of European recolonization in Latin America posed a significant threat to the young American nations’ political and economic autonomy and was the catalyst which brought about the Monroe Doctrine. Simultaneously, the United States desired to protect its emerging strategic interests and promote a sphere of influence free from European intervention (McNamara, 2023). The desired state was a Western Hemisphere comprised of free and independent nations, shielded from Old World colonial ambitions and aligned more closely with the principles of republicanism.
	The main challenge that prompted the Monroe Doctrine was the looming threat of European intervention and recolonization of the newly independent states in South and Central America. European powers, committed to the principles of the Concert of Europe, wanted to quell republican movements they perceived as threats to their monarchies (Edling, 2023). Although wary of European entanglements, the United States was also concerned Russian advances on the western frontier. Under the ideology of Manifest Destiny, the United States viewed those western territories as future American lands. 
	Conversely, the United States had some significant opportunities which they could leverage. The most significant opportunity came from the Latin American independence movements. These movements provided the U. S. with the occasion to extend its influence and promote economic ties throughout the region, fostering a hemispheric zone of cooperation and shared republican values. Supporting these newly independent states would allow the U. S. to impede European colonial efforts and pave the way for increased American economic and geopolitical influence.
	The problem the Monroe Doctrine sought to address was, how can the United States prevent European recolonization in the Western Hemisphere while also positioning themselves as a guardian of emerging republics, thereby promoting regional stability and protecting American strategic interests? Three distinct Lines of Effort (LOEs) emerged from the Monroe Doctrine and make up the approach. They are, LOE 1: Non-Colonization Principle, LOE 2: Non-Intervention Principle, and LOE: Collaboration with the British Navy.
	Monroe clearly articulated LOE 1: Non-Colonization Principle when he declared that, going forward, no European powers should consider the American continents as subjects for future colonization (Monroe, 1823). This stance was a pivotal assertion of American intent to protect the Western Hemisphere from future European colonial ventures. By establishing this principle, the Monroe Doctrine effectively served as a deterrent against European intervention.
	Line of Effort 2: Non-Intervention Principle, asserted that the United States would view any European attempt to impose their political systems on independent nations of the Western Hemisphere as a direct threat to American peace and safety (Monroe, 1823). The principle of non-intervention underscored the United States’ commitment to the autonomy of its regional neighbors and reinforced the distinction between the Old World and the New World.
LOE 3: Collaboration with the British Navy involved leveraging the British Navy’s dominance. Although the United States made a unilateral declaration, it tacitly relied on the naval supremacy of Britain to enforce the doctrine. Britain’s alignment of commercial interests with the United States’ political objectives ensured that European powers acknowledged the doctrine’s practical implications, even if they did not formally recognize it (McNamara, 2023).
The Monroe Doctrine’s approach was highly effective in achieving the desired end state during its initial implementation. The clear policy of non-colonization and non-intervention deterred European powers from reasserting their control over former colonies in South and Central America, and the informal support by the British Navy ensured that those same powers respected the principles of the Monroe Doctrine. 
The Monroe Doctrine’s legacy lies in its successful establishment of a policy that safeguarded the emerging American republics from European colonial ambitions. By asserting the principles of non-colonization and non-intervention, and leveraging British naval power, the doctrine articulated a clear and effective approach to realizing a Western Hemisphere free from European imperialism. Its foundational role in shaping American foreign policy underscores its significance as a pivotal historical document.