James Monroe
By: Chelsea Hunter
Background
James Monroe was born on April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County, Virginia to Spence Monroe and Elizabeth Jones Monroe. He was the eldest of several siblings and that meant he would be the one to inherits his father's property (farm); however when his father passed he decided to enrolled into Virginia's College of William and Mary to major in law but he dropped out to fight in the American Revolution and in 1776 became a part of George Washington's army at the Battle of Trenton. While Monroe went back & studied law under Thomas Jefferson which who he built a personal & professional relationship with, he met a woman name Elizabeth Kortright and they got married on Feb. 16, 1786 and moved to Frederickburg, Virginia. Monroe was elected the 5th president of the U.S. In 1817 and later on died in 1831.
What prompted his career as a politician?
James Monroe realized he wasn't like his father & sold his property to focus on things he wanted to invest his time into, Thomas Jefferson became close with Monroe professionally introducing him to politics.
Political Stance
In 1782, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates and served in the Continential Congress from 1783 to 1786. In 1787, He joined the anti-Federalists in the Virginia Convention an in 1790 was elected U.S. Senator. He was a minister to France in 1794-1796 and was a Republican choice for presidency in 1816.
Contribution to his time:
- Helped negotiate the Louisiana Purchase with Thomas Jefferson
- Helped settled the Missouri Compromise
- Joined the Virginia House of Delegates
- Monroe a Doctrine which was when Monroe set a law for the Spanish about their future colonization in Latin America
Was Monroe a good president?
James Monroe was a good president he wasn't as good as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, or James Madison but he was a deliberate thinker and served in my political associations in the U.S.
His Opponents?
During Monroe Doctrine, James and Adams wished to avoid trouble with Spain until it had ceded the Floridas. Great Britain also opposed reconquest of Latin America and suggested that the U.S. join in proclaiming "hands off." Madison & Jefferson counseled Monroe to accept the offer but Adams advised differ. and Monroe accepted Adam's advice
What are some things you can learn from this president?
James Monroe taught me that you can be the 5th or 8th president but you can still be as powerful as any other president and set your own rules in your administration which is what he did with the Monroe Doctrine.
3 Quotes from this James Monroe
- "The right of self-defense never ceases. It is among the most sacred, and alike necessary to nations and to individuals."
- " Preparation for war is a constant stimulus to suspicion and ill will."
- "Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arms themselves with the power which knowledge gives."