Chief Justice John Marshall administers the oath of office to James Monroe in the nation’s first outdoor inauguration. Toward the end of his first inaugural address, Monroe mentions the South American countries that are struggling for independence from Europe and offers the first glimmer of what will become known as the Monroe Doctrine. The doctrine will later be defined as stating that the United States will protect the North and South American continents from European colonization. In return, the United States will not interfere with European affairs.