James Monroe

Birth-Death: (1758 - 1831 ) Term: (1817-1825 )

James Monroe's administration presided over a time referred to as the "Era of Good Feelings." However, this did not in fact last for very long. Sectionalism was beginning to foster in the United States. The Missouri Compromise temporarily released some tension over slavery, but things were slowly moving towards trouble.

Major Events with James Monroe

1820 - Missouri Compromise

    In 1820 there were 11 free and 11 slave states. Since the free states had a greater population they were in control of the House of Representatives while the Senate enjoyed a balance of power. The South saw it crucial to maintain the balance in the Senate, so that the free North could not abolish slavery. In 1820 Missouri and Maine petitioned to join the union. This would keep the fragile balance in the Senate, and all would pass quietly if not for the action of the New York representatives, who attached a condition prohibiting any new slaves to enter Missouri.

    The South states held that Congress had no right attaching provisions to the states' charter and the measure was easily defeated in the Senate. Henry Clay ushered a compromise between the two sides. The compromise stated that Main would be a free state, Missouri a slave state, and for the rest of the Louisiana territory slave would be prohibited in the areas North of the 36'30''line and legal in the areas south of the 36'30'' line. This was a preamble to the break up of the Union in 1861.

1823 - Monroe Doctrine

    In his annual state of the Union address, President Monroe included the new foreign policy of the United States. The message stated that the American Continents are not subjects for future colonization by European powers, and since the United States stayed out of the inter-European wars, the European nations should not interfere with the growth and development of other powers.