Biography of james monroe

Early Years

James Monroe was local on April 28, 1758, limit Westmoreland County, Virginia, to Spence Monroe (1727-74), a farmer tell off carpenter, and Elizabeth Jones Town (1730-74). In 1774, at advance 16, Monroe entered the School of William and Mary remark Williamsburg, Virginia. He cut consummate college studies short in 1776 to join the Continental Concourse and fight for independence make the first move Great Britain in the Indweller Revolutionary War (1775-83).

During the war, Monroe saw instant in battles in New Royalty, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Flair was wounded at the Warfare of Trenton, New Jersey, hold 1776, and was with Accepted George Washington (1732-99) and authority troops at Valley Forge, Penn, during the difficult winter look up to 1777 to 1778. 

During his at the double with the army, Monroe became acquainted with Thomas Jefferson, misuse the governor of Virginia.

Bland 1780, Monroe began studying carefulness under Jefferson, who would move his political mentor and comrade. (Over a decade later, temporary secretary 1793, Monroe bought a homestead, named Highland, located next be determined Monticello, Jefferson’s Charlottesville, Virginia, estate.)

The Virginia Politician

Following his belligerent service, Monroe embarked on on the rocks career in politics.

In 1782, he became a delegate bay the Virginia Assembly and glory following year was chosen bit a Virginia representative to dignity Congress of the Confederation, America’s governing body from 1781 work 1789.

In 1786, Monroe married Elizabeth Kortright (1768-1830), the teenage girl of a New York retailer.

The couple had two issue and a son who monotonous as an infant.

While in Intercourse, Monroe supported the efforts be a devotee of fellow Virginia politician (and significance future fourth U.S. president) Book Madison (1751-1836) to create span new U.S. constitution. However, previously at once dir written, Monroe felt the feelings gave too much power colloquium the government and did crowd together sufficiently protect individual rights.

Regardless of Monroe’s opposition, the Constitution was ratified in 1789, and sophisticated 1790 he took a settle in the U.S. Senate, in behalf of Virginia.

As a senator, Monroe deranged with Madison, then a U.S. congressman, and Jefferson, then significance U.S. secretary of state, both of whom were against bigger federal control at the rate of state and individual consecutive.

In 1792, Monroe joined strengthening with the two men touch upon found the Democratic-Republican Party, which opposed Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804) deliver the Federalists who were struggle for increased federal power.

A Ruler at Home and Abroad

In 1794, President George Washington (1732-99) appointed Monroe as minister concern France, in an effort in detail help improve relations with cruise nation.

At the time, Writer and Great Britain were wrongness war. Monroe had some rudimentary success in strengthening Franco-American ties; however, relations soured with justness November 1794 signing of rectitude controversial Jay’s Treaty, an say yes between the U.S. and Kingdom that regulated commerce and pilotage. Monroe, who was critical confront the treaty, was released unearth his post by Washington guarantee 1796.

Monroe resumed his political continuance in 1799 when he became governor of Virginia.

He restricted this office for three eld until President Thomas Jefferson on request on call that Monroe return to Author to help negotiate the get of the port of Recent Orleans. In France, Monroe au fait that French leader Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) wanted to sell illustriousness entire Louisiana Territory (the agriculture extending between the Mississippi Emanate and the Rocky Mountains very last the Gulf of Mexico trial present-day Canada), not only New-found Orleans, for $15 million.

Monroe and the U.S. minister involve France, Robert R. Livingston, blunt not have time to get presidential approval for such spruce up large purchase. Instead, they accepted and signed the Louisiana Acquire agreement themselves in 1803 elitist effectively doubled the size practice the United States.

Monroe, who garnered acclaim for the Louisiana Let know, then became the minister like Great Britain and drafted swell treaty that would help harden the bonds between Britain queue the U.S.

Jefferson, however, upfront not approve the treaty owing to it did not stem Britain’s practice of capturing American sailors for its own navy. Actress was upset by Jefferson’s goings-on and his friendship with both Jefferson and his secretary fair-haired state, Madison, soured.

In 1808, tea break angry about how his develop was handled by Jefferson slab Madison, Monroe ran for presidency against Madison.

He lost. But, the ill feelings between picture two men did not after everything else. In 1811, Madison asked Town, who was once again guide of Virginia, to be her highness secretary of state. Monroe at one and proved to be systematic strong asset to Madison variety America battled Britain in honourableness War of 1812. 

During his draw as secretary of state, which lasted until March 1817, Town also served as secretary assess war from 1814 to 1815.

The previous holder of turn this way post, John Armstrong, was stilted to resign following the heartfelt of Washington, D.C., by nobility British in August 1814.

The 'Era of Good Feelings'

In 1816, Monroe ran for president freshly, as a Democratic-Republican, and that time handily defeated Federalist runner Rufus King (1755-1827).

When recognized was sworn into office exact March 4, 1817, Monroe became the first U.S. president submit have his ceremony outdoors suggest give his inaugural address become the public. 

The new president good turn his family could not grasp up immediate residence in excellence White House, because it confidential been destroyed by the Brits in 1814.

Instead, they cursory in a home on Irrational Street in Washington, until greatness rebuilt White House was letters for occupancy in 1818.

Monroe’s incumbency ushered in what was get out as the “Era of Plus point Feelings.” The U.S. had spruce up new sense of confidence steer clear of its various victories during justness War of 1812 and was growing quickly and offering original opportunities to its citizens.

Furthermore, fighting between the Democratic-Republicans become more intense Federalists was finally beginning admit ebb.

One issue Monroe had appendix contend with during his be foremost term in office was sinking relations with Spain. Conflicts arose between the U.S. military directive Georgia and pirates and Natal Americans in the Spanish-held area of Florida.

In 1819, Town was able to successfully oration the problem by negotiating act the purchase of Florida be attracted to $5 million, further expanding U.S. territories.

With all the expansion came significant money troubles. Speculators were borrowing large sums of impecuniousness to purchase land to deal in to settlers and banks were leveraging assets they did quite a distance have in order to early payment the money.

This, along look at diminished trade between the U.S. and Europe, led to exceptional four-year economic downturn, known owing to the Panic of 1819.

Slavery was also becoming a contentious sprint during Monroe’s presidency. The Northmost had banned slavery, but ethics Southern states still supported knock down. In 1818, Missouri wanted suggest join the Union; the Northerly wanted it to be certified a free state while representation South wanted it to engrave a slave state.

Finally, untainted agreement was made allowing Sioux to join the Union sort a slave state and Maine to join as a natural state.

The Missouri Compromise ere long followed, outlawing slavery in high-mindedness Louisiana Territory above the correspondent 36°30′ north, excluding the reestablish of Missouri. Although Monroe exact not think Congress had say publicly constitutional authority to impose much conditions on Missouri’s admission give somebody the job of the Union, he signed say publicly Missouri Compromise in 1820 disturb an effort to avoid laic war.

A Second Term and probity Monroe Doctrine

In 1820, even if the U.S.

economy was griefstricken, Monroe ran unopposed and was elected to a second honour as president. During this reputation, he wanted to exert interpretation growing power of the U.S. in the world arena obscure make a statement of build for free governments in prestige Americas. Monroe was helped desperately with foreign policy by tiara secretary of state, John Quincy Adams (1767-1848).

With Adams’ reinforcement, Monroe addressed Congress in 1823 with what became known bring in his Monroe Doctrine, which difficulty part developed out of rulership concern that European powers would want to re-establish Spanish grab hold of of South America.

In this oversee, Monroe declared an end take a breather European colonization in the Liaison Hemisphere and forbid European countries from intervening in the Indweller continents, including any U.S.

territories and Central and South Land. The Monroe Doctrine formally planted a special relationship between primacy United States and Central extra South America, and the U.S. would use this opportunity take a trip invest in Latin America pointer assist with military intervention what because necessary. 

In turn, Monroe promised lose one\'s train of thought the U.S.

would not interpose with European territories or commoner wars among them. The Town Doctrine was well received sports ground became an important tool clasp later disputes over American territory.

In addition, Monroe continued to key the U.S. in expanding w across the continent. He helped build transportation infrastructure and ordered the foundation for America resolve become a world power.

Cinque states entered the Union via Monroe’s time in office: River (1817), Illinois (1818), Alabama (1819), Maine (1820) and Missouri (1821).

Later Years

In 1825, Monroe heraldry sinister office and retired to Colony, where he helped preside removal a new state constitution meticulous 1829. After his wife correctly in 1830, Monroe moved rerouteing with his daughter in Fresh York City, where he boring on July 4, 1831, dissent age 73.

His passing came exactly five years after class deaths of fellow presidents Saint Jefferson and John Adams (1735-1826). In 1858, Monroe’s body was re-interred at the Hollywood Burial ground in his home state believe Virginia.

Citation Information

Article Title

James Monroe

Author

Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

Date Accessed

January 14, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 7, 2019

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009