Sources
- https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/james-monroe/
The White House's official page on James Monroe provides authoritative information about his life, political career, and presidency, making it a reliable source for biographical details and key events. - https://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/james-monroe/
The Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia from Monticello offers detailed insights into Monroe's relationship with Thomas Jefferson, his legal studies, and his diplomatic roles, which are central to the blog post. - https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Monroe
Encyclopaedia Britannica is a well-respected source for comprehensive biographies, including Monroe's early life, political career, and presidency, ensuring accuracy and depth. - https://www.loc.gov/collections/james-monroe-papers/about-this-collection/
The Library of Congress's collection of James Monroe's papers provides primary sources and historical context, supporting claims about his political and diplomatic activities. - https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/james-monroe
History.com offers a detailed overview of Monroe's life, including his role in the Democratic-Republican Party and his presidency, backed by reputable historical research.
Key Points
- James Monroe was born on April 28, 1758, in Virginia, and was home-schooled until age 11 before attending the College of William and Mary.
- He dropped out of college at 17 to fight in the Continental War for America's independence.
- Monroe studied law under Thomas Jefferson and became a lawyer, entering the Virginia House of Delegates in 1782.
- He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and was elected to the US Senate in 1790.
- Monroe was appointed ambassador to France in 1794 but was recalled in 1796 due to deteriorating US-France relations.
- He co-founded the Democratic-Republican Party with Thomas Jefferson and James Madison to advocate for decentralized government and stronger ties with France.
- Monroe served as governor of Virginia from 1799 to 1803 and helped campaign for Jefferson's presidential election in 1800.
- As a diplomat, Monroe negotiated the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and later served as a special diplomat to Britain and Spain.
- Monroe opposed James Madison in the 1808 election due to disagreements over diplomacy but later served as Madison's Secretary of State.
- He became the fifth U.S. president in 1817, the last founding father to hold the office, and worked to support freed slaves.
Summary
James Monroe was a founding father and the fifth U.S. president, known for his diplomatic roles, including negotiating the Louisiana Purchase and serving as ambassador to France and Britain. Before his presidency, he co-founded the Democratic-Republican Party, governed Virginia, and served as Secretary of State under James Madison. His presidency (1817-1825) marked him as the last founding father to hold the office, during which he advocated for freed slaves and strengthened U.S. diplomacy.
Biography Of James Monroe
James Monroe was a statesman, a founding father, and a lawyer. He was born on April 28th, 1758, in Monroe Hall, Virginia, to Spence and Elizabeth Monroe.
Early Life
He was home-schooled until age 11, when his parents enrolled him in Campbelltown Academy. At the early age of 16, James Monroe got admitted to the College of William and Mary. However, he soon dropped out of college a year later to fight in the continental war for America’s independence.
Political Career
After victory had emerged, James Monroe was appointed as a delegate to the Continental Congress. He studied law under Thomas Jefferson for three years, from 1780 to 1783. He signed up to become a lawyer during this period and passed the Virginia Bar in 1782. That same year, he entered the Virginia House of Delegates and was elected into the 4th, 5th, and 6th Continental Congress.
Fast-forward to 1790, James Monroe was elected to the US Senate, and in 1794, he was assigned as the ambassador to France. As an ambassador, he negotiated the release of Thomas Paine (an American Activist) together with other American prisoners in French captivity. Two years later, he was called back to Washington in 1796 because President George Washington felt he was deteriorating the bilateral relationship between the United States and France.
Formation Of Democratic-Republican Party
When he returned, he decided to focus on his plantations while practicing law. However, due to the political calling bestowed on his life, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison joined forces to form the Democratic-Republican Party in 1792. They wanted to form the Democratic-Republican party because they wanted to strengthen ties with the French, and also, they wanted a decentralized government.
He became the governor of Virginia between 1799 to 1803, and as governor, he used his power to campaign for Thomas Jefferson to win the presidential election in 1800.
Life As A Diplomat
President Thomas Jefferson revamped James Monroe’s diplomatic career in 1803 and appointed James Monroe as a diplomat to France to help negotiate the acquisition of Louisiana from France. He was successful in the negotiation, and it made Thomas Jefferson trust him with more diplomatic offers. Between the period of 1803 to 1807, he was assigned as the special diplomat of the US to Britain. He played a similar role in Spain in 1805, where he again negotiated the acquisition of West Florida from the Spanish, which proved futile.
As diplomat to Britain, Monroe was tasked to negotiate for the release of American sailors who were kidnapped by the British and forced to join the British Navy. During the course of negotiation, he signed the Monroe-Pinkey treaty with the British government, however, president Thomas Jefferson and Secretary of State James Madison rejected the treaty without even submitting it to the Senate.
Upon discovering this, Monroe became angry at Thomas Jefferson and Madison and decided to oppose Madison in the 1808 election. Even though he opposed his close friend in the elections, Monroe made it clear that he carry any ill will for Madison. Monroe simply felt he and Madison had different opinions regarding international diplomacy.
Get Smarter on US News, History, and the Constitution
James Madison won the 1808 election and made Monroe his Secretary of State in 1811. He served as secretary for six years before winning the presidency in 1817. He was the last founding father to become a president, and during his regime, he worked vigorously to provide shelter for freed slaves.
