From VOA Learning English, welcome to The Making of a Nation,our weekly program of American history for people learning English. I'm Steve Ember.In 1823, President James Monroe introduced one of the most important foreign policy decisions in American history.It became known as the Monroe Doctrine.The doctrine said the United States never had, and never would, take part in any war between the European powers.At the same time, it warned the Europeans against interfering in the western hemisphere.Monroe declared that the Americas are "not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers."Historian Harlow Giles Unger says the Monroe Doctrine marked the end of the colonial era."The United States now considered the entire western hemisphere our sphere of influence.That we would keep out of their affairs but they must keep out of our affairs."
