Eleanor Finch
James Monroe, the fifth US president, was a Founding Father and an influential figure in the nation's early years. Initially opposed to the Constitution, he voted against its ratification, advocating for a stronger bill of rights and the direct election of presidents and senators. However, Monroe's political career spanned various roles, including soldier, diplomat, senator, and cabinet official. He served as Thomas Jefferson's minister to France and secretary of state for James Madison, and he played a key role in the Louisiana Purchase, nearly doubling the nation's size. As president, Monroe's tenure included the Missouri Compromise, addressing the expansion of slavery, and the Monroe Doctrine, a significant tenet of US foreign policy. He also advocated for improved infrastructure and faced the economic crisis of the Panic of 1819.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Monroe's stance on the Constitution | Opposed the Constitution as he believed it gave too much power to the national government and wanted a stronger bill of rights. |
| Monroe's role in the Virginia Ratifying Convention | Was a delegate to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, which voted on the adoption of the US Constitution. |
| Monroe's role in Congress | Served in the Continental Congress from 1783-1786 and advocated for western expansion and protection. |
| Monroe's views on infrastructure | Believed the nation needed improved infrastructure, including a transportation network, but did not think the Constitution authorized Congress to build and maintain it. |
| Monroe's actions as President | Helped build transportation infrastructure, acquire land, and settle border disputes. |
| Monroe Doctrine | A policy established by Monroe to keep other nations out of the Western Hemisphere and exert US power in the world arena. |
| Monroe's re-election | The only president, aside from George Washington, to run unopposed for re-election, receiving 81% of the vote in 1820. |
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What You'll Learn
Monroe's opposition to the Constitution
James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States, was initially opposed to the ratification of the United States Constitution. As an anti-federalist delegate to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, he voted against the final document, claiming that it gave too much power to the central government. He believed in less government control and more individual rights, including a strong bill of rights to protect the rights now embodied in the First Amendment.
Monroe's political identity was heavily influenced by his uncle, Joseph Jones, a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and a close friend of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. Monroe's friendship with Jefferson and Madison, the founders of the Democratic-Republican Party, further solidified his opposition to the Constitution. The three men helped form the anti-federalist party, which coalesced around their shared beliefs in limited government and individual freedoms.
Despite Monroe's opposition to the Constitution, he went on to serve in various government roles, including as a senator from Virginia, Governor of Virginia, and Minister to France and Britain under President Washington. He also served as Secretary of State and Secretary of War under President Madison and, in 1817, became the fifth President of the United States. During his presidency, Monroe improved foreign policy through the Monroe Doctrine, which opposed European intervention in the Americas and became a landmark in American foreign policy.
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The Virginia Ratifying Convention
James Monroe was a delegate to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, which voted on the adoption of the United States Constitution. He initially opposed the Constitution, wanting a stronger bill of rights. Despite his opposition, the Virginia ratifying committee ratified the Constitution.
Monroe studied law under Thomas Jefferson from 1780 to 1783 and subsequently served as a delegate to the Continental Congress. He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1782 and was chosen as a member of the governor's council. From 1783 to 1786, he served in the Congress under the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the new nation. During his term, he insisted on the right of the United States to navigate the Mississippi River, then controlled by the Spanish. He also attempted to secure for Congress the power to regulate commerce, addressing one of the great defects in the existing central government.
Monroe was a key player in two presidential administrations. He served as a minister to France and England for President Thomas Jefferson and as secretary of state and secretary of war for President James Madison. He held virtually every key public office before becoming president in 1817. Monroe was one of the most dominant presidential candidates, receiving 68% of the vote when he defeated Rufus King in the 1816 election. He ran unopposed in the 1820 race, garnering 81% of the vote.
Monroe believed that the young nation required an improved infrastructure, including a transportation network, to grow and thrive economically. However, he did not think that the Constitution authorized Congress to establish and manage a national transportation system. He repeatedly urged Congress to pass an amendment allowing it to finance internal improvements, but Congress never acted on his proposal.
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Monroe's views on federal financing of internal improvements
James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States, believed that the young nation needed to improve its infrastructure, including a transportation network, to grow and thrive economically. However, he did not think that the Constitution authorised Congress to build, maintain and operate a national transportation system. Despite his views, Monroe was in favour of federal financing of internal improvements. He repeatedly urged Congress to pass an amendment allowing Congress to have the power to finance internal improvements.
Monroe's stance on federal financing of internal improvements was influenced by his belief that the nation needed improved infrastructure to support economic growth. He advocated for a system of internal improvements, which included the construction, maintenance, and operation of transportation networks such as roads and canals. This belief was shared by other members of his cabinet, such as John C. Calhoun, who proposed the Bonus Bill of 1817, which aimed to earmark revenue for an internal improvements fund.
However, Congress never acted on Monroe's proposal for an amendment, as many congressmen believed that the Constitution already allowed the federal financing of internal improvements. This disagreement over the interpretation of the Constitution's authority led to a stalemate on the issue during Monroe's presidency.
In 1822, Congress passed a bill authorising the collection of tolls to finance repairs on roads, specifically the Cumberland Road. Despite his support for federal financing, Monroe vetoed this bill, adhering to his stated position that Congress could appropriate money but not undertake the actual construction or assume jurisdiction over national works. Monroe elaborated on his constitutional views in an essay, where he acknowledged Congress's power to appropriate funds but maintained his interpretation of the limits of their authority.
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The Monroe Doctrine
James Monroe, born on April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, was an eyewitness to many of the events that led to the creation of the United States and the U.S. Constitution. He studied law under Thomas Jefferson from 1780 to 1783 and subsequently served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and the Virginia legislature. He was also a member of the Virginia Ratifying Convention, which voted on the adoption of the United States Constitution.
Monroe was initially opposed to the Constitution, believing that it gave too much power to the national government, including taxation power, and that it did not sufficiently protect individual rights. Despite his opposition, the Constitution was ratified in 1789, and Monroe took a seat in the U.S. Senate in 1790. As a senator, he continued to advocate for a strong bill of rights and opposed increased federal control.
Monroe's most significant contribution to the Constitution was through his role in the Monroe Doctrine, which he addressed to Congress in 1823. The Monroe Doctrine was a policy established to keep other nations out of the Western Hemisphere and to support free governments in the Americas. Monroe believed that the young nation needed improved infrastructure, including a transportation network, to grow and thrive economically. However, he did not think that the Constitution authorized Congress to undertake these initiatives. He proposed an amendment to grant Congress the power to finance internal improvements, but it was not acted upon.
In addition to his role in the Monroe Doctrine, Monroe also faced constitutional considerations during his presidency, particularly regarding the expansion of slavery and the admission of new states to the Union. He signed the Missouri Compromise in 1820, which outlawed slavery in the Louisiana Territory above the parallel 36°30′ north, to avoid civil war. He also acquired Florida through the Adams-Onis Treaty and settled border disputes in the north and the Oregon Territory.
Overall, while James Monroe did not have a direct role in drafting or ratifying the Constitution, his contributions through his political career, including the Monroe Doctrine, shaped the interpretation and application of constitutional principles in the early years of the nation.
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Monroe's role in the Missouri Compromise
James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States, played a significant role in the Missouri Compromise. This compromise was a critical legislative measure that addressed tensions over slavery in the United States.
The Missouri Compromise was introduced to address the growing tensions between the North and South over the expansion of slavery in new territories. Missouri's admission as a slave state was seen as a way to maintain the South's interests in Congress. To balance this, Maine was admitted as a free state, ensuring equal representation of free and slave states in the country.
The compromise also included a provision prohibiting slavery in territories north of the 36°30' latitude line, except for Missouri. This line, known as the Missouri Compromise Line, became a key marker in the sectional divide over slavery. While the Missouri Compromise temporarily eased tensions, it ultimately highlighted the deep divide over the expansion of slavery, foreshadowing the conflicts that would lead to the Civil War.
Monroe's stance on the Missouri Compromise is somewhat disputed. While he signed the compromise into law, he was firmly opposed to any restriction on slavery. However, he believed that the compromise was the least detrimental option for southern slaveholders. Monroe's support for the Missouri Compromise contributed to the Era of Good Feelings, a period of national unity and optimism during his presidency.
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Frequently asked questions
James Monroe initially opposed the US Constitution, as it gave the national government taxation power and lacked a bill of rights. He voted against the final document.
James Monroe eventually supported the US Constitution and voted for its ratification in 1791. He believed that the Bill of Rights should be included as the first ten amendments, which it was.
When Missouri sought statehood as a slave state, James Monroe supported the Missouri Compromise, which admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state to maintain the balance of power.
James Monroe's most lasting legacy is his Monroe Doctrine, which became a major tenet of US foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere. It stated that Europe should stay out of the affairs of new countries and territories in the Western Hemisphere.
