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== =James Monroe (April 28, 1758- July 4, 1831)= =Democratic-Republican= =Terms: March 4, 1817 - March 4, 1821= =March 4, 1821 - March 4, 1825= =Vice President: Daniel D. Tompkins=

With nationalism at its highest, president James Monroe succeeded in maintaining nationalism and is also accredited for the "Era of Good Feelings." President Monroe deserves a B+ for his presidency because he added five new states to the union, pushing America's state boundaries for the desire of new territory, created the Monroe Doctrine which allowed America to stay neutral in international affairs, and ultimately helped to defeat the two party system.

During Monroe's presidency, his goal was to keep nationalism alive and bring our country together. Monroe is associated with the "Era of Good Feelings" because it allowed not one distinct political party to be powerful at this time and was ultimately a happy time period. Monroe made two national tours, visiting different places in the nation, even places that were against him during the election. Monroe recieved happy welcomes and brought the nation together. Monroe wanted to bring the country together, and did this by electing John Calhoun and John Quincy Adams as Secretary of War and Secretary of State. Although both these men were Democratic-Republicans, Monroe did not elect them because of the political party, but by what they could bring to the table.

Monroe had a very good relationship with his Congress. The majority of the House and Senate were Republicans, with very few Federalists because of that political party deteriorating. The only bill that was vetoed by Monroe would distribute 1.5 million dollars amongst the states to improve roads and canals, primarily the Cumberland Road. Although Monroe encouraged improving transportation, he believed that because there was not a constitutional amendment authorizing it, it must be left to the states. During the Panic Crisis of 1819, this brought many problems with Missouri and if it should be a slave or free state. Missouri asked for Congress to admit them as a slave state. However, this angered the North and believed it would give the south more power. The tallmadge amendment was then created which said that no more slaves would be brought into Missouri and all children born to slaves be emancipated. After debate, Congress admitted Missouri as a slave state but then admitted Maine as a free state to balance them.

The Monroe Doctrine was created due to the concerns that Spain might attempt to recapture its former colonies in Latin American and that Russia might extend its claims in Alaska which would include the Oregon Territory. The Doctrine clearly stated non-intervention and non-colonization. It warned European powers against intervention in the western hemisphere and that there would be no more colonization in the Americas. It also ensured that the United States would not intervene in any wars and was against foreign intervention. The Monroe doctrine had a positive outcome and also influenced future presidents decisions. This doctrine proved "to be the most famous of all the long-lived offspring of that nationalism." It was merely a statement that Monroe made, but it warned the Old World to stay away from the New World. This doctrine was invoked in the future by Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and many other presidents in that it kept Europe out of America. Although the Panic of 1819 was not directly related to Monroe, this was the worst event that happened during his presidency. There was a split in what the South and the North wanted. The North wanted tarriffs to be raised and the South wanted to lower them. This crisis took Monroe and his administration until 1823 to get the country back to where it needed to be.

The United States was definitely better off once Monroe finished his presidency. He added five new states to the Union, (Mississippi 1817, Illinois 1818, Alabama 1819, Maine 1820, Missouri 1281) and added Florida as a territory to the United States. There was also now a clear distinction to what states would be free and which would be slave states. Monroe's presidency can be known as the "Era of Good Feelings" and he deserves a B+ for his presidency.

Bibliography: The American Pageant http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Monroe http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/jamesmonroe/ http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=5 DeGregorio, William A. __The Complete Book of U.S. President.__