James Monroe
(March 4, 1817 to March 3, 1825)

Born: April 28, 1758
Died: July 4, 1831

Political Party: Democratic-Republican
Previous Occupation: Lawyer

Elected From: Virginia
Vice President: Daniel D. Tompkins (1817-1825)
Cabinet Members: view list

Other Government Positions:
· Member of Continental Congress, 1783-86
· United States Senator, 1790-94
· Minister to France, 1794-96
· Governor of Virginia, 1799-1802
· Minister to France and England, 1803-07
· Secretary of State, 1811-17 (under Madison)
· Secretary of War, 1814-15 (under Madison)

Inaugural Address: 1817, 1821
Biography: view

Presidential Highlights:
· Missouri Compromise. In 1819, Missouri (a slaveholding territory) applied to the Union to become a state. Abolitionists opposed adding another slave state to the Union. Madison supported Missouri’s petition for statehood. To settle the dispute, Monroe approved the Missouri Compromise of 1820 (permitted Missouri to enter as a slave state, and admitted Maine as a free state).

· Sent Secretary of State John Quincy Adams to negotiate the Adams-Onis Treaty with Spain (United States purchased Florida for $5 million, set the southwest boundary of Louisiana, Spain gave up its claim to Oregon, and Spain kept control of Texas).

· Announced the Monroe Doctrine (brought every independent American country under the protection of the United States) warning European governments not to interfere with their internal affairs.

· Helped create the African country of Liberia (a haven for freed North American blacks)

Presidential Election:
1816
James Monroe183
Rufus King34
(Votes Not Cast)4

1820
James Monroe231
John Q. Adams1
(Votes Not Cast)3

Pop Out Into New Window