James Monroe

Presidential Final Four Essay



James Monroe was born on April 28, 1758 and grew up in Virginia. His parents were very good planters. His mother died before 1774 and his father died when James was 16. Monroe inherited his father's farm. He attended school at Campbell town Academy and then went to the College of William and Mary. He dropped out to join the Continental Army and fight in the American Revolution.

From 1782-3, James was a member of the Virginia Assembly. He joined the Continental Congress in 1783. He left to practice law and became a Senator in 1790. He was elected Virginia Governor in 1799. He helped to negotiate the Louisiana Purchase. He became minister to Britain in 1803. He was Secretary of State 1811-1817.

James served to terms of presidency from 1816-1824. The election in 1816 Monroe was the choice of both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. His Vice President was Daniel D. Tompkins. He had very little support for the federalists, and won 183 out of 217 electoral votes. In James second term he had no opponent for presidency, so he did not have to campaign much at all.

James Monroe's administration was known as the "Era of Good Feelings." In 1819, America entered its first economic depression. The depression lasted until 1821. Monroe made some moves to try and eliminate the effects of the depression. Two major developments during Monroe's presidency were the Missouri Compromise and the Monroe Doctrine . The Missouri Compromise admitted Missouri into the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state.

Monroe served in the Continental Army from 1776-78 and rose to the rank of major. He fought besides George Washing in the Battle of Trenton. He was aide-de-camp to Lord Stirling during the winter at Valley Forge. James acted like a scout during the Battle of Monmouth. He resigned in 1778 and returned to Virginia where governor Thomas Jefferson made him Military Commissioner off Virginia.

Monroe retired to Oak Hill in Virginia. In 1829, he was sent to and named the president of the Virginia Constitutional Convention. He moved to New York City upon his wife's death. He died on July 4, 1831.