James Monroe
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5th President of the United States
In office
March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825
Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins
Preceded by James Madison
Succeeded by John Quincy Adams
James Monroe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Monroe (April 28, 1758 – July 4, 1831) was the 5th President of the United States, serving two terms from 1817 to 1825. His presidency was marked both by an "Era of Good Feelings" – a period of relatively little partisan strife – and later by the Panic of 1819 and a fierce national debate over the admission of the Missouri Territory.Monroe is most noted for his proclamation in 1823 of the Monroe Doctrine, which stated that the United States would not tolerate further European intervention in the Americas.
Born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, Monroe fought in the American Revolutionary War. After studying law under Thomas Jefferson from 1780 to 1783, he served in the Continental Congress. As a delegate to the Virginia convention that considered ratification of the United States Constitution, Monroe opposed ratification, claiming it gave too much power to the central government. Nonetheless, Monroe took an active part in the new government and in 1790 he was elected to the Senate. A strong anti-Federalist, Monroe allied with the Jeffersonians. He gained experience as an executive as the Governor of Virginia and rose to national prominence when he helped negotiate the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
Between 1811 and 1815, Monroe served as the 7th Secretary of State and the 8th Secretary of War under President James Madison. Facing little opposition from the fractured Federalist Party, Monroe was easily elected president in 1816, winning over 80 percent of the electoral vote. As president, he sought to ease partisan tensions and embarked on a tour of the country shortly after his inauguration. The so-called "Era of Good Feelings" that ensued was short-lived.[3] The Panic of 1819 struck and the dispute over the admission of Missouri embroiled the country in 1820.Nonetheless, Monroe overwhelmingly won reelection that year. In 1823, he announced the Monroe Doctrine. The doctrine was a landmark in his presidency and in American foreign policy. Following his retirement in 1825, Monroe was plagued by financial difficulties. He died in New York City on July 4, 1831.
