Page:Anglo-American relations during the Spanish-American war (IA abz5883.0001.001.umich.edu).pdf/20

4 hundred years of peace have since failed to eliminate entirely.

During Jefferson's presidency the United States began a policy of active continental expansion in which Great Britain held an interest scarcely secondary to that of the United States, British supremacy in Europe was dependent, in part, upon the restrictions of continental colonial and commercial expansion in the New World. The revolt of the Spanish colonies in South America combined with the threatened interference of the monarchial powers of Europe in behalf of Spain aroused the apprehension of both the United States and Great Britain. Consequently, in 1823, George Canning, British minister for foreign affairs, suggested to Richard Rush, the American minister to Great Britain, the expediency of an understanding between the United States and Great Britain on the question of the Spanish colonies. Such a policy of joint action was inconsistent with the isolated position previously maintained by the United States and with her own national welfare. As a result the United States acted upon her own initiative and proclaimed the Monroe Doctrine which did not Limit British trade expansion but which did restrict European colonial expansion.

From such a background of Anglo-American discords a series of situations developed which constantly added fuel to Anglo-American hostility for over fifty years.