Adam+-+JMon+-+SP09

1. James Monroe (April 28, 1758 – July 4, 1831) 2. Democratic-Republican 3. March 4, 1817 – March 4, 1825 4. Daniel D. Tompkins James Monroe was an exceptional president during his terms in office and consequently I think he deserves an A. Throughout the “Era of Good Feelings” Monroe supplied the country with improved unity from his various policies such as the Monroe Doctrine and his assistance in eliminating the two party system for a time. He concerned himself with more domestic affairs such as the acceptance of five more states into the Union and the acquisition of new land. Monroe was an experienced, levelheaded executive at the right time and helped further cement the U.S. as a stable, major nation. As president, James Monroe’s main goal was to maintain the nationalistic air that was in the U.S. and further unite the country. During his first term, he went on two national tours all over the country and received heartwarming welcomes throughout, instilling national trust within the population. Non-partisan in spirit, he made many diverse cabinet appointments, such naming a southerner, John C. Calhoun, as Secretary of War, and a northerner, John Quincy Adams, as Secretary of State. Only Henry Clay's refusal to accept a position kept Monroe from adding an outstanding westerner. His Monroe Doctrine further encouraged the idea of the united country and essentially shielded the western hemisphere, saying that further efforts by European governments to colonize land or interfere with states in the Americas would be viewed by the United States as acts of aggression requiring intervention. Monroe had a relatively good relationship with congress especially bearing in mind all that was occurring between the North and the South. The Republicans were in the majority in both Houses as the Federalist Party’s pulse was steadily fading. The only bill that Monroe vetoed was one that promised to distribute money throughout the states to improve roads and canals, primarily the Cumberland Road. He thought it was unconstitutional because there was not an amendment authorizing it, so it should be left to the states. Another massive issue was whether Missouri should be a slave or free state. Missouri asked Congress to admit them as a slave state. However, the North did not approve and thought it would give the south more power. After debate, Congress admitted Missouri as a slave state but then admitted Maine as a free state to balance them. The action that had the most positive outcome during James Monroe’s term was the annexation of Florida. This land had been long argued over between the U.S. and Spain. This added a large territory to the U.S. through this action in 1821. By far the worst thing that happened during Monroe’s presidency was the Panic of 1819, when a paralyzing economic panic descended. Monroe’s administration faltered in restoring the economy, largely due to the fact that different parts of the nation had different theories of correcting the depression. The North wanted to raise taxes to supply the country with more revenue, but the South wanted to reduce them so that the people wouldn’t have to pay as much. However, Monroe’s administration did ultimately end the crisis in 1823. The most impactful decision of James Monroe’s presidency was the formulation of the Monroe Doctrine. It became a defining moment in the foreign policy of the United States and one of its longest-standing tenets, invoked by U.S. presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, John F. Kennedy, and others. The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine (added during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt) was invoked to intervene militarily in Latin America to stop the spread of European influence. Monroe most definitely affected future presidents and their administrations through this doctrine. In conclusion, the country was better off at the end of James Monroe’s terms of office than at the beginning. At the beginning of his presidency the Panic of 1819 was crippling the nation, and it eventually ceased. At the end of his terms there were more states in the union, Florida was included in the U.S., there was to be no more disputes over slave states, and he an “Era of Good Feeling” pervaded the whole country. James Monroe truly deserved an A because he did so much for the country, rightfully earning his place in history.

http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/monroe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_Doctrine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Monroe American Pageant - Text Book