James K. Polk and the Monroe Doctrine

A Message to Congress, December 2nd 1845:
"The rapid extension of our settlements over our territories heretofore unoccupied, the addition of new states to our confederacy, the expansion of free principles, and our rising greatness as a nation are attracting the attention of the powers of Europe, and lately the doctrine has been broached in some of them of a 'balance of power' on this continent to check our advancement. The United States, sincerely desirous of preserving relations of good understanding with all nations, cannot in silence permit any European interference on the North American continent, and should any such interference be attempted will be ready to resist it at any and all hazards."
- James K. Polk, President of the United States

Here, at a time concurrent with the writing/publishing of Melville's novel we note the beginnings of the politicization of "manifest destiny' which is actually a corollary to the previously established and newly interpreted "Monroe Doctrine". This message delivered to congress represents President James K. Polk's expansionist, colonialist and imperialist sentiments. He would later use the same justification against European interference in North America to justify the annexation of Texas, continual border disputes with England over the Oregon territory and to begin the Mexican-American War. The Mexican-American War lasted from May 13th, 1846 through 1848. It is incredibly likely that Melville thought extensively upon the imperialist sentiments present in justifications of the war in his writing of Moby-Dick.