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__ James Monroe __


 * Political Party: ** Democratic-Republican
 * Terms: ** Term 1: 1817-1821, Term 2: 1821-1825
 * Vice President: ** Both Terms: Daniel D. Tompkins (1817-1825)


 * Theme: American Identity **

Throughout his career, James Monroe had a mild personality with which he effectively led the nation without many heroics. He helped create the American identity both internally and externally. With the help of making the American System throughout his career and his doctrine in 1823, Monroe greatly established the American Identity of the 1800’s and lead America into a new age. As America grew and European powers looked upon America differently, it was Monroe’s job to help the growth while protecting America and her interests. Americans began expanding to the west, and as western society grew, citizens demanded more internal transportation and protection for manufacturing and American commerce. In order to achieve this, Henry Clay suggested plans that would later culminate in his American System to President Monroe. The three key aspects of this plan were to reinstate the Bank of America, create a protective tariff to prevent British companies from harming American manufacturers, and funding for new roads and transportation in America. By building up the American System and assisting his citizens, Monroe insured American expansion to the west and in manufacturing. It is thanks to Monroe, Clay, and the American System that the U.S. could easily move westward while growing a strong economy based on agrarian products and increasing manufacturing. As America grew, European powers began to look at America with respect as well as fear. European leaders, fearing the expanse of revolution and democracy, stopped local rebellions and attempted to quell Latin American rebellions and democracies. Knowing that European Monarchies existing so close to American soil would be dangerous, James Monroe spoke out against the leaders of Europe in his doctrine of 1823. He warned them to leave Latin American democracies and the U.S. alone to grow and live without Old World interference. Although given under the pretext of assisting Latin American countries, Monroe’s Doctrine was a renewal of American isolationism ideals and plans to protect the U.S. and her interests by avoiding European conflicts and powers. Many Americans stuck behind his doctrine in support of democracy and the belief that America did not need to involve itself in European problems in order to thrive. It is with these two events that James Monroe shaped the American Identity of the 1800’s into one of isolationism and expansion in order to focus more on America and westward movement than the powers of the Old World.


 * Presidential Grading **

Although not a dramatic or heroic President, James Monroe still deserves an A for successfully leading the U.S. through its first national economic panic, westward expansion, and foreign policy that allowed America to grow and prosper. After the War of 1812, the stage was set for American industry to boom and for Americans to move into the new western territories. For these endeavors to be achieved, Monroe had to help with the creation of the American System while protecting America and her interests through his foreign policies. If not for his efforts as President, America may have succumbed to the powers of the Old World or to internal war over the issues of expansion and slavery. Because of his thoughtful leadership and actions during a key point in history, there is no doubt he deserves an A rating. During his first term in office, James Monroe sought to grow the United States frontier and economy, specifically manufacturing and industry by protecting it with domestic polices, and to protect the nation from foreign threats through military and political strength. To protect America internally and promote expansion, Monroe worked on peaceful relations with Indian tribes and increasing spending on the nation’s infrastructure to build new roads and canals to connect the coast to the western frontiers. Throughout his career and the attempts to create the American System, Monroe completed the goals of making a prosperous country by promoting the protective tariff to fund the economy and to spend on internal improvements. However, the work fell upon state control and with the guidance of Monroe the states created new roads and canals to increase commerce and western expansion. With the beginning of his second term, he focused mainly on foreign affairs and protection of the U.S. while keeping the Union internally happy with the expansions to the west. With foreign affairs, Monroe succeeded in keeping the United States isolated and protected politically through treaties and neutrality. He believed the U.S. was safest remaining away from European conflict and avoiding confrontation with the monarchs. One of his few failures in an age full of problems was the fact that the nation was beginning to separate and suffer from sectionalism again as states became divided on the issues of slavery and the new western states creation. Although he helped create the Missouri Compromise, Monroe did not directly work on the problem and allowed the issue to become worse during his presidency until sectionalism reined its head once again with the creation of two sub parties within his own party. As the President during the “Era of Good Feelings,” Monroe was the leader of a Congress dominated by Democratic-Republicans during both of his terms in office giving him an incredible amount of support from Congress. Although there were still several Federalists in both houses, they were so few that they had nearly no say in legislation. The major legislation during his time included three treaties; the Rush-Baggot, Treaty of 1818, and Adam-Onis Treaty; the Missouri Compromise, and the Tariff of 1824. Most of Monroe’s acts were passed due to his vast approval and one party system of the time. Although there was only “one” party and Monroe attempted to keep peace among its members, sectionalism occurred as arguments arose over slavery and the tariff. Congress began to split over regional differences between the west and east and the north and south as well as those who lived in more urban industrial areas and the rural slave holding areas. Little did Monroe know that his attempts at keeping and controlling a one party system would only lead to deep separations and the creation of a two party system at the end of his second term. Although Monroe say a two party system as unpatriotic, he helped create one of the key pieces of today's government. During Monroe’s administration, there were many events that could have sent the nation plummeting into despair but were prevented by Monroe’s passive actions. Of all the acts and policies created by Monroe, the most positive and influential was the creation of the American System. Although a majority of the control and work fell to the states, it was Monroe and Henry Clay’s pushing and planning that led the way for creating new roads, canals, and infrastructure as well as the new banking system that helped the nation to prosper and fix the financial panic of 1819. Living in an era where many events threatened the nation’s security, it is not surprising that there is one occurrence in his career that left a negative, lasting impact on the nation. While many saw the Missouri Compromise as a successful and political decision, it only delayed the inevitable struggle between the sectionalist nation that would have longer to stew, grow, and then explode in a passion that was only increased by the Missouri Compromise. The compromise gave both sides a taste of what they wanted and would not willingly change later on. If Monroe had fought slavery harder and not allowed hatred to grow, the Civil War may not have occurred that is why the Missouri Compromise was not a benefit to the society but only a blinder to the true problem. Although Monroe desired to keep the one party system and prevent disunity among American politicians, it is a good thing that sectionalism grew from the administration and began creating a stronger political system. It is thanks to Monroe’s assistance in the Missouri Compromise and other controversial issues that Americans became diverse and began creating two separate parties from the one Democratic - Republican Party. By having differing opinions and parties, Monroe allowed for more informed unifying decisions and for a different political system. Monroe felt the one party system was better than sectionalism since it promoted nationalism and unity. However, it is because Monroe fought the two party system that it was able to grow and expand from his administration to encompass many American political ideas. It is from this smoldering sectionalism that today’s two party system stems from and developed to create the Republicans and Democrats known today. Even though Monroe was not a heroic President, his mild manner intellect and smart political decisions helped America grow and prosper. Guiding the nation both abroad and domestically, Monroe created foreign and local policies that protected the nation from foreign threats, expanding on Washington’s desire for American isolationism, and allowed for American industry and expansion to grow unhindered. There is no doubt James Monroe deserves a grade of A for his contributions to early 19th century America and western expansion.

Works Cited:

"American President: James Monroe." //Miller Center//. University of Virginia. Web. 29 Sept. 2011. .

"American System." //United States American History//. U-S-History.com. Web. 29 Sept. 2011. .

"Art & History Home Classic Senate Speeches." //U.S. Senate//. United States Goverment. Web. 29 Sept. 2011. .

"Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States." //The American Presidency Project//. Gerhard Peters. Web. 29 Sept. 2011. .

"James Monroe." //The White House//. United States Goverment. Web. 29 Sept. 2011. .

"Monroe Doctrine (1823)." //OurDocuments.gov//. National Archives. Web. 29 Sept. 2011. .