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By 1815 the Spanish Empire was in tatters.
到1815年，西班牙帝國坍塌
Shattered by its flirtation with Napoleon,
被拿破侖砸了個粉碎的西班牙
Spain was now stuck with revolutions
又被卷入了在阿根廷
in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.
智利，哥倫比亞，墨西哥和秘魯的革命之中
Jumping on Spain while the jumping was good
正所謂乘人之危
the US took Florida away from the Spanish
美國從西班牙手中奪走了佛羅里達州
thanks to the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819.
也多虧了1819年的亞當斯-奧尼斯條約
Colonial Maneuvers.
殖民運動
The Central and South American revolutionaries
中美和南美的革命者們
began fighting for their independence
開始與西班牙帝國對抗
from the reeling Spanish Empire.
為了獨立而戰
Despite American admiration for their courage
盡管欽佩他們的勇氣
the US recognized these new Central
美國于1822年承認了這些新興的
and South American democracies in 1822
中美和南美的民主勢力
without promising any military support.
但是卻沒有承諾任何軍事支持
The new democracies were very happy
這些新民主國家非常高興
with America's show of support
看到美國的支持
but they really wanted promises
但是他們更希望美國
of military aid against Spain.
承諾軍事上的援助以對抗西班牙
At first US President James Monroe
起初美國總統詹姆斯·門羅
and Secretary of State John Quincy Adams
和國務卿約翰·昆西·亞當斯
followed Washington's warning
遵從華盛頓的警告
to avoid foreign entanglements.
避免卷入外國事務
The revolutionary's admiration of the US was touching.
這種對革命者的敬仰令人動容
But really should the US risk a war
但是美國是否應該為了中南美國家
with Spain for Central and South American democracies
這些還不一定能夠存活的民主力量
which might or might not survive.
冒險去與西班牙開戰呢?
It seemed safest to let Spain
看起來最安全的做法就是讓西班牙
and her rebellious colonies fight it out
和她那些反叛的殖民地們私下解決
provided that no other European powers
假設沒有其他歐洲勢力
jumped in on Spain's side.
愿意幫助西班牙的話
In 1823 Russia and France pledged to help Spain
1823年，蘇聯和法國答應幫助西班牙
recover its former empire.
恢復前王朝
Uh-oh. They proposed further that Great Britain,
大事不妙，他們還提議讓英國
their fellow ally,
他們的盟友
join them in this worthy goal.
加入這個偉大的計劃
A coalition of Spain, France, Russia and Britain
如果讓西班牙，法國，蘇聯和英國聯手
launching a crusade against democracy
一起向這些民主勢力
would certainly crush these
發動一場討伐的話
Central and South American democracies.
這些中南美勢力一定會被粉碎
The question was would it stop there
問題是這個討伐是到此為止
or would the coalition next take on the homeland
還是他們會繼續聯合打擊
of modern democracy itself; the United States?
現代民主的發源地: 美國本身?
Monroe had been Secretary of State
門羅在1812年戰爭時期
during the War of 1812.
擔任過國務卿
He knew the risks of war quite well.
他深知其中包含的風險
The war with Britain had ended in a draw.
與英國的戰爭打成平局
If Britain accepted membership in a coalition
如果英國加入了聯盟
with Spain, France and Russia
與西班牙，法國和俄國一起
to wipe out democracy in South America
扼殺南美的民主運動
things would not look good.
那么形勢就不樂觀了
Fortunately for the United States
幸好對于美國來說
the British hated France more than
英國對于法國的憎恨
they loved the concept of monarchy.
要遠大于他們對君主制的熱愛
The British had not forgotten the War of 1812
英國人不像美國人一樣
anymore than the Americans had.
一直記著1812年的戰爭
Russia was too remote to present any real threat,
而蘇聯又距離太遠不足以構成威脅
Spain was too weak.
西班牙非常脆弱
But France posed a definite threat.
可是法國卻是心頭大患
To the British the idea of French troops
對于英國來說，如果法國軍隊
back in the New World was unthinkable.
重新回到新世界的畫面是不堪設想的
A new French Empire in Southern and Central America
如果法國在中美和南美建立
would be disastrous for British military,
新帝國，對于英國的
politically and economically.
軍事，政治和經濟都是一場災難
Instead Britain proposed an alliance
因此，英國提出了要和
with the United States,
美國結成聯盟
a joint ultimatum to keep France and Spain
發出最后通牒，警告法國和西班牙
from intervening in American politics anywhere.
不要干預美國的政治
