David+G.+-+JMO+-+FA10

= **James Monroe** =

Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins both terms
After fighting a war, America was in need of a new popular leader to keep the growing nation together. Fortunately for the United States, their next president was the widely admired Revolutionary War veteran and the recent secretary of state, James Monroe. He was unanimously accepted by virtually everyone. James Monroe and his administration deserve an A for their decisions by maintaining an, "Era of Good Feelings", increasing the feeling of nationalism, and effectively managing America after the war of 1812.

Stepping into office, Monroe clearly stated his goals as President of the United States in his first Inaugural Address. He stated that the United States had great opportunities to create its own industries, and that America should not be dependent on foreign companies. Monroe said, "Possessing as we do all the raw materials, the fruit of our own soil and industry, we ought not to depend in the degree we have done on supplies from other countries. While we are thus dependent the sudden event of war, unsought and unexpected, can not fail to plunge us into the most serious difficulties". Monroe did not want the Americans to fall for Britain's tempting cheap goods. Another one of Monroe's goals were also stated in his Inaugural Address. He strived to keep every American pleased with the Government and to presserve the essential principles and features which characterize it. Monroe said in the Address, "In contemplating what we have still to perform, the heart of every citizen must expand with joy when he reflects how near our Government has approached to perfection; that in respect to it we have no essential improvement to make; that the great object is to preserve it in the essntial principles and features which characterize it, and that that is to be done by preserving the virtue and enlightening the minds of the people". This goal of Monroe's displayed his desire to increase the feeling of nationalism in America.

Monroe and Congress maintained an exceedingly good relationship. Throughout Monroe's two terms, he only vetoed one bill. This bill was to equip the National Road, which went from Maryland to Virginia, with a toll system. Through Monroe's veto, he encouraged the individual states with the road passing through should set up their own tolling system. However, Monroe changed his mind after he discussed the issue with justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. This proves that Monroe was not a stubborn president and was open to different ideas. Another factor that contributed to Congress's and Monroe's fantastic relationship was that most of the people were Democratic-Republicans at that time. There was no partisan struggle. Monroe and Congress were content with one another.

Monroe's best decision was to tour the United States three times, once in 1817, and again in 1818 and then again 1819. Although this action may sound insignificant, it had an extremely positive and lasting impact on all people in America. His tours allowed him to come in contact with more citizens than all previous presidents. Evidently, the tours led people to be content with the new president. His presidency was even considered an "Era of Good Feelings", a term first used by The Boston Columbian Centinel. Virtually visiting all corners of the United States, Monroe heavily influenced the rising feel of nationalism. His unbelievable popularity soon led to his almost unanimous re-election in 1821. Monroe's decision to tour all of the United States was unmistakably one of Monroe's best decision because it keep the feeling of nationalism high, even when problems like slavery were evident.

Monroe's worst decision was to pass the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Although the compromise seemed to have solved the issue at hand, in reality it only pushed it to be solved in the future. The Missouri Compromise attempted to balance free states and slave states by stating that the land to the north of the latitude 36 30 was to be free and the south was to be slave. This proposal, drafted by Henry Clay, provided a solution to the current problem of deciding if Missouri was to be slave or not, however, it maintained numerous flaws. The bill seemed to only separate the country. In the future it would only escalate issues on states joining the Union. At first, Monroe highly opposed the bill and planned to veto it. The thought of a civil war was what ultimately pushed Monroe into passing the bill. Although Monroe passed the bill, it was later repealed during the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, when the new territories wanted to decide on their own if they were to be a slave or a free state.

James Monroe's annual message to Congress in 1823 contained the Monroe Doctrine, which influenced not only the lives of Americans, but it also influenced other numerous Western-Hemisphere countries as well. The Monroe Doctrine warned the Old World Eastern-Hemisphere countries to stay out of the New World Western-Hemisphere countries. The Doctrine stated, "The American continents are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers." The Monroe Doctrine was so influential that it was invoked over 100 years after it was written. It was cited in 1865 when the French placed an emporeror in Mexico, in 1904 when European creditors in Latin America threatened countries to collect their debts, and again in 1962 when the Soviet Union built missle launching sites in Cuba. James Monroe's Doctrine was the most influential action that he made during both his terms, due to the long term effect of the decision.

Jame's Monroe's "Era of Good Feelings" urged America in the right direction by pushing nationalism and effectively managing America after the war of 1812. The president succeeded in making America a better place for it's citizens. Monroe's contribution to American History deserves an A for providing the nation of an "Era of Good Feelings" and increased nationalism. Without such leadership, America could not possibly be the same nation as it is today.

"American President: James Monroe: Domestic Affairs." //Miller Center of Public Affairs//. Web. 30 Sept. 2010. .

DeGregorio, William A., and Sandra Lee. Stuart. //The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents//. Fort Lee, NJ: Barricade, 2009. Print.

Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas Andrew Bailey. //The American Pageant: a History of the Republic//. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. Print.

"Missouri Compromise: Primary Documents of American History (Virtual Programs & Services, Library of Congress)." //Library of Congress Home//. Web. 30 Sept. 2010. .

"Our Documents - Monroe Doctrine (1823)." //Welcome to OurDocuments.gov//. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. .