James Monroe was born in Virginia, where he studied at Campbelltown Academy for five years. At age sixteen, both parents passed away, and he inherited the family fortune before attending the College of William and Mary that same year. By 1775, however, patriotic fervor on the campus had risen to unprecedented levels, and after the battles of Lexington and Concord, Monroe joined a group of older men in raiding the arsenal of the residing governor. They returned with 500 weapons, which armed the Williamsburg militia, and that spring, Monroe left the college and served in the Third Virginia Regiment of the Continental Army. He never returned to school, though he later studied law under Thomas Jefferson, in order to achieve a life of wealth and social standing. Shortly after the conclusion of his sessions with Jefferson, Monroe met and married Elizabeth Kortright, who later gave birth to three children. He retained a lavish lifestyle, but the plantations he later owned fared poorly, and he often had to sell property to pay his debts.
After Jefferson was elected president, he sent Monroe to the Court of St. James in Britain, where he effectively extended the Jay Treaty of 1794. Unfortunately, Jefferson did not approve of the treaty, and relations between the two countries decreased significantly. Monroe was humiliated once more, and upon his return, the Quid faction of the Republican Party attempted to enlist him to their cause and campaign for his election. The Quids failed to maintain support, however, and Madison was elected President. Monroe was made Secretary of State, and, after the War of 1812, Secretary of War as well.
Monroe was himself elected president in 1816, with little competition from the Federalist Party. During his first term, the party, in disarray after the War of 1812, collapsed, and Monroe ran again with no opposition in 1820. Monroe’s administration was nicknamed the “Era of Good Feelings” because it decreased political tensions, and he remained largely popular even after the Panic of 1819 caused a difficult economic depression. He also passed the Missouri Compromise bill, which lasted until 1857. He added Florida to the U.S. in 1821. Two years later, his Monroe Doctrine, actually written by John Quincy Adams, proclaimed the Americas to be free from European colonization and interference.
Monroe’s term in office concluded in 1825, after which he settled on the grounds of the University of Virginia. Upon his wife’s death in 1830, he moved to New York to live with his daughter, where he fell ill and passed away in 1831. He died on the 4th of July, 55 years after the U.S. Declaration of Independence was signed into authority and five years after John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who died within hours of each other on that same date in 1826.
Born. | |
Inherited the family fortune after his parents passed away. | |
Attended the College of William and Mary. | |
Raided the Governor’s palace to procure weapons for the Williamsburg militia. | |
Dropped out of college and joined the 3rd Virginia Regiment. | |
Studied law under Thomas Jefferson. | |
Elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. | |
Served in the Continental Congress. | |
Married Elizabeth Kortright. | |
Virginia ratified the Constitution. | |
Was elected Senator. | |
Appointed Minister to France. | |
Served as governor of Virginia. | |
Appointed Minister to the Court of St. James in Britain. | |
Negotiated the Monroe-Pinkney Treaty. | |
Became Secretary of State. | |
Became Secretary of War. | |
Served as President of the United States. | |
Panic of 1819. | |
Missouri Compromise. | |
Florida was ceded to the U.S. | |
Monroe Doctrine. | |
Death of Elizabeth. | |
Died. |
Industrial Heroes in | South America by Hezekiah Butterworth |
More Land Bought in | Story of the Great Republic by H. A. Guerber |
Monroe—Monroe's Famous Doctrine in | This Country of Ours by H. E. Marshall |
James Monroe in | True Stories of Our Presidents by Charles Morris |
Era of Good Feeling in | American History Stories, Volume III by Mara L. Pratt |
Image Links | ||
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James Monroe in Indian History for Young Folks |
James Monroe in True Stories of Our Presidents |
James Monroe as envoy, purchases Louisiana in True Stories of Our Presidents |
First Six Presidents of the United States in True Stories of Our Presidents |
John Quincy Adams | Diplomat who spent much time in Europe before becoming the sixth U.S. President. |
Thomas Jefferson | Third President. Author of the Declaration of Independence. Founder of Democrat-Republican Party. |
James Madison | One of the chief authors of the Constitution and writer of the Federalist papers. Fourth President of the U.S. |
Second President of the United States. Worked tirelessly to help establish the republic on steady footing. |