James Monroe
5th President of the United States
James Monroe
• Born April 28, 1758 in Westmoreland County,
Virginia
• Died July 4, 1831 in New York City
• Education – College of William and Mary
• Occupations – soldier, lawyer, writer
• Married – Elizabeth Kortwright
• Home – Charlottesville, Virginia
• Political Party – Democratic Republican
• Inauguration
• 1st March 4, 1817 in Washington D.C.
• 2nd March 5, 1821 in Washington D.C.
Important Information
• Was the last President of the “Virginia
Dynasty”
• Was wounded in the shoulder at the Battle
of Trenton, NJ during the Revolutionary War
• Became good friends with Thomas Jefferson,
even though Jefferson was 15 years older.
• Studied law with Jefferson between 1780
and 1783.
• Was 24 years old when he was elected to
the Virginia State Legislature
Important Information
• Was opposed to ratifying the Constitution of the
United States
• Became a senator for Virginia, and the
Governor of Virginia
• Was minister to France from 1794 to 1796,
helping negotiate the Louisiana Purchase.
• Was appointed Secretary of State in 1811 by
James Madison
• Became Secretary of War in 1814 after the
British captured Washington D.C.
• Helped write the Missouri Compromise – Maine
became a Free State, and Missouri a Slave
state.
As President
• Signed the Adams-Onis Treaty in 1819,
which purchased Florida from Spain
• Most significant achievement became known
as the “Monroe Doctrine” which came from a
speech given to Congress on December 2,
1823:
• “The American continents by the free and
independent condition which they have assumed
and maintain are henceforth not to be considered
as subjects for the future colonization by any
European Power.”
• Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, Maine, and
Missouri became states.
• Slavery becomes the main political issue
Interesting Facts
• The name of his Richmond, VA home was
Oak Hill
• One of 3 of the first 5 Presidents to die
on the 4th of July
• Was the last leader of the Revolutionary
War to become President
• His presidency was known as the “Era of
Good Feelings”
• Vice President – Daniel D. Thompkins
• Major opponent – Rufus King
Elections
• 1816 – Monroe was the choice of both
Jefferson and Madison to succeed Madison.
His opponent was Rufus King, who was an
early opponent of slavery. Monroe had 183
electoral votes, King only 34.
• 1820 – Monroe received 231 of 232
electoral votes in this election. One elector
chose not to vote for Monroe because he felt
that only George Washington should get all
the votes for President.
Famous Quotes
• “Our country may be likened to a new
house. We lack many things, but we
possess the most precious of all –
liberty.”
• “A little flattery will support a man
through great fatigue.”
• “National honor is national property of
the highest value.”