Monroe, James (1758-1831)

American Eras

James Monroe (1758-1831)

Source

Fifth president of the united states

Background. James Monroe was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, on 28 April 1758 to Spence and Elizabeth Monroe, the oldest of their five children. Though well off, the Monroe family was not among Virginia’s elite. After a primary education in a private school, Monroe entered the College of William and Mary at the age of sixteen. The American Revolution interrupted his education, and he enlisted as a lieutenant in the Continental Army in 1776. He was present at several major battles and was wounded at Trenton. He caught George Washington’s attention and studied law with Thomas Jefferson, then Virginia’s governor, from 1780 to 1783. In 1786 he married Eliza Kortright, the daughter of a New York merchant who traced his ancestors to early Dutch immigrants.

Early Career. In 1782 Monroe was elected to Virginia’s state legislature and a year later entered the Confederation Congress. He realized that the Articles of Confederation were far too weak, but his fear of a strong central government led him to prefer amending them rather than creating a new government. He was not a delegate to the Constitutional Convention but was elected to the Virginia ratifying convention, where he opposed the new constitution. That did not stop him from running for U.S. representative against James Madison. Madison won decisively, but Monroe was selected to fill a vacant United States Senate position. As senator he opposed most Federalist policies but became Washington’s minister to France in 1794. Monroe sought to end French interference with American commerce, but Jay’s Treaty weakened his position, and he was recalled in 1796. Between 1799 and 1802 he was governor of Virginia. From 1803 to 1810 he served in a variety of diplomatic missions, including helping Robert Livingston negotiate the Louisiana Purchase.

Secretary of State. Monroe became Madison’s secretary of state in March 1811. Monroe believed he could resolve the complex problems raised by the Napoleonic Wars, but failed. His service as secretary of state during the War of 1812 was unremarkable, and he hoped for a military command that would raise his prestige and secure him the presidency. He was never commissioned but became secretary of war in late 1814. His brief stint as head of the War Department witnessed better American performance in the field and enhanced his reputation as an effective administrator.

Virginia Dynasty. Monroe was the fifth president and the fourth Virginian to hold the office. Elected in 1816, after the Federalist Party’s demise, Monroe served during the “Era of Good Feelings.” In the 1820 election Monroe secured all but one electoral vote cast. Few pressing domestic issues arose during his presidency though debate over internal improvements and slavery in Missouri did require his close attention. Initially a strict constructionist who vetoed internal improvement bills, he believed that national improvements for the general defense were authorized by the Constitution and signed bills to repair the Cumberland Road and build better harbors. He stayed out of the Missouri debate until congressional legislation settling the crisis arrived at his desk. Although unsure about Congress’s power to restrict slavery, he signed the bill anyway. His most momentous accomplishment was the promulgation of the Monroe Doctrine, which articulated the United States’ desire to dominate the Western Hemisphere.

Administrator. While perhaps not among the great presidents, Monroe demonstrated a remarkable ability for administration and for selecting highly effective cabinet members. He approached domestic affairs as a strict constructionist and had no clear policy to alleviate the economic dislocation of the Panic of 1819. His foreign policy, generally directed by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, was far more successful and included the resolution of several pressing issues with Great Britain in the late 1810s, the annexation of Florida, and the Mon roe Doctrine.

Later Years. Monroe retired in 1825 after his second term and returned to Virginia. His years of public service left him in serious debt, and Congress voted him $30, 000 to settle certain claims. In 1829 he presided over Virginia’s state constitutional convention and opposed expanding the franchise or meddling with slavery. He moved to New York in 1830 and lived with his daughter until his death on 4 July 1831, exactly five years to the day after the death of his mentor and friend, Thomas Jefferson.

Source

Harry Ammon, James Monroe: The Quest for National Identity (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1971).

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