#5 James Monroe

1. #5 James Monroe 1817-1825

2. “The Last of the Revolutionaries” Born: April 28. 1758 Parents: Spence and Elizabeth (Jones) Monroe. Wife: Elizabeth (Kortright) Children: Eliza, J.S., Maria

3. Background • James Monroe was born to a moderately prosperous family of Virginia planters of Scottish origin. • He received early education at the Campbell Town Academy, and attended the College of William and Mary when he was only 16. • Monroe was a successful student and showed talent as a young student.

4. Revolutionary War Service • Monroe dropped out of the College of William and Mary to join the Continental Army in 1776. • He was eventually promoted to Major. • He was severely wounded in his shoulder at the Battle of Trenton in 1776, when he was only 18 years old, and spent the winter at Valley Forge. • He was eventually sent to North Carolina to report on British activity in the area.

6. Marriage • Monroe married Elizabeth Kortright of New York in 1786. She was 17 and James was 27. • She was an able lady, from a military family. She knew how to be a hostess, but changed the custom of calling on visitors, which caused some controversy. • Later her health failed her and she became somewhat secluded.

7. Political Career • Studied Law with Jefferson • 1780 Elected to Virginia Legislature • 1783-1786 Continental Congress • 1786 Admitted to bar • 1788 Delegate to Virginia convention, where he voted against U.S. Constitution. (Later swore allegiance to it, demonstrating objectivity and patriotism. • 1794-1796 and 1803 Minister to France

8. Political Career Continued • 1799-1803 Governor of Virginia • 1803 Minister to England • 1804 Diplomatic mission to Spain • 1806 Negotiated treaty with Britain. • 1811 Governor of Virginia • 1811-1815 Secretary of State and of War • 1817-1825 President

9. Presidential Actions • Vetoed bills to make internal improvements (roads, bridges, etc.), reflecting his Democratic-Republican beliefs. • First Seminole War 1817-1818. • Purchased Florida • Supported Missouri Compromise • Monroe Doctrine (Europeans out of Western Hemisphere)

11. “Era of Good Feelings” (Maybe….) • The period of Monroe’s presidency is called the Era of Good Feelings, because the Federalists ceased to be a major political force, and there seemed to be unification. • The argument for this is that the Missouri Compromise was reached, despite serious tensions, and because Monroe was one vote away from unanimous re-election. • Really, the sectionalism and partisanship of the next 40 years was on display.

12. Monroe and Slavery • Monroe owned slaves his whole life. • He spoke against slavery as governor of Virginia, and was in favor of gradual emancipation. • Monroe supported the colonization of former slaves in Africa, and Monrovia, Liberia is named for him. • He did not support abolition, and he worked for the Missouri Compromise, which extended slavery into that territory.

13. Later Years • Monroe left office over $75,000 dollars in debt, and was forced to sell of much of his land and his one of his estates. • He died on July 4th, 1831, 55 years after the declaration.

14. Monroe’s Legacy • Monroe is known as a solid president that held firm to the constitutional principles of limited power. • The blemishes on his record were the U.S. expansion in Florida, and his belief that if slavery was acceptable in one state, congress cannot prevent a new one from allowing it. • The Monroe Doctrine was not important in his life time, but would be in the future.