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Party: Democratic-Republican Term: 1817-1825 Vice President: Daniel D. Tompkins
 * James Monroe**

As the fifth president of the United States, James Monroe deserves an A- for his presidencial term. There were many ideas that went very well for Monroe such as the Monroe Doctrine, the Missouri Comprmise, and invading the Spanish in Florida. However, Monroe did not handle some other things like he should have such as the Panic of 1819. Monroe also had a very good relationship with Congress and a good cabinet which really helped him make very wise decisions. His relationship with the people also greatly helped him.
 * Thesis**

One goal of Monroe's was to really connect with the people and find out what they need. To do this Monroe sent out on country tours all over to talk to the people and get ideas from them. This goal was accomplished very well and it even influenced later presidnets to also go out and get in touch with the people they are governing over. Another goal of Monroe's was really to reunite America. When he took office the country was starting to split over issues like slavery. He settled this issue for awhile by making the Missouri Compromise. This compromise did not completely reunite the country but it slowed down the process to war.
 * Goals**

Monroe had a very good relationship with Congress. When made president he made very good decisions about who to put in the Cabinet. he made John C. Calhoun the Secretary of War, and he made John Quincy Adams the Secretary of State. Monroe also wanted to add Henry Clay to the Cabinet but he refused. With the Federalist party nearly wiped out most of Congress was Democratic-Republican, as was Monroe. This really helped with the realtionship because they shared the same views on problems so they were then able to agree on the best course of action to solve it.
 * Relationship with Congress**

The most positive decision made by Monroe was the Monroe Doctrine. This is a statement made by Monroe that evantually became a longstanding tenet of U.S. foreign policy. It was formed by Monroe and his Secreatry of State, John Quincy Adams. The doctrine is based on ideals such as breaking away from European affairs and defense of neutral rights. The doctirne was split into three main concepts: seperate spheres of influence for the Americas and Europe, non-colonization, and non-intervention. They were designed to signify a clear break between the New World and Europe. The doctirne greatly hepled to settle disputes with Britain and put all the wars behind us.
 * Most Positive Decision**

The most negative decision of Monroe's presidency was how he handled the Panic of 1819. During the panic banks all over the United States were failing and many mortgages were being foreclosed, which forced people out of their houses and off their farms. Widespread unemployment hit with falling prices that impaired agriculture and manufactuirng. Many loans were given out to land speculators who were not able to pay them back. Monroe did not do much to help with the panic. With the Northern states wanting higher tariffs and the Southern states wanting to reduce the tariffs there was not much he really could have done. However he could have helped out the state banks which he did not do.
 * Most Negative Decision**

The decision of Monroe's that had the most influence on the future would be the Missouri Comprimise. When Missouri fianlly became a state of the Union it was expected to become a slave state, since most of the people living their came from the South. When Maine was passed as a state it became a free state and then when Alabama became a state it became a slave state. If Missouri became a slave state it would then maintain the same number of free and slave states. A bill was then passed forbidding the rest of the Lousiana Purchase (the southern boundary of Missouri) to have slaves.When the bill was not passed Maine became a state and Missouri adopted a constitution with no restictions on slavery. Keeping the country divided like this with some free states and some lsave states was one of the main causes leading up to the Civil War.
 * Influential Decision**

America did end up better off after Monroe was president. Many of his decisions ended very well with results that greatly hepled America. The Monroe Doctrine really hepled with foreign affairs fro the United States and the same basic principle is still being used today. The Missouri Compromise was another decision that strongly influenced America for the good. Even though Monroe could have handled the Panic of 1819 the positives of his term cover up the one flaw that he had, so as stated before James Monroe deserves an A- for his presidency.
 * Conclusion**

"James Monroe." The White House. 2/24/2010. [|www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/jamesmonroe] "James Monroe." American President. 2/24/2010. [] "Missouri Compromise." Infoplease. 2/25/10. [|www.infoplease.com/ceo/history/A0833427.html] "Monroe Doctrine, 1823." U.S. Department of State. 2/24/10. [|www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/jd/16321.htm] "Panic of 1819." Travel and History. 2/25/2010. [|www.u-s-history.com/pages/h2777.html]
 * Bibliography**