5 Key Facts about James Monroe: The 5th US President and Founding Father

James Monroe

1817-1825 Democratic-RepublicanMissouri Compromise of 1820; Monroe Doctrine

James Monroe was the fifth president of the United States of America, serving from 1817 to 1825. He was born on April 28, 1758, in Virginia and was the last of the Founding Fathers to serve as president. Some facts about James Monroe include:

1. Military service: Monroe had a distinguished military career before entering politics. He served as an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolution and was wounded in the Battle of Trenton.

2. Political career: Monroe served in a number of political positions before becoming president, including serving in the Virginia House of Delegates, the Continental Congress, and as governor of Virginia. He also served as the Secretary of State and the Secretary of War under President James Madison.

3. Monroe Doctrine: The Monroe Doctrine was a foreign policy statement issued by President Monroe in 1823. It stated that any European attempt to colonize or interfere with the affairs of the Americas would be seen as a threat to the United States and would be met with military force if necessary.

4. Era of Good Feelings: Monroe’s presidency was marked by a period of national unity known as the Era of Good Feelings. This was a time of relative peace and prosperity in the United States, characterized by a decline in partisan politics and an upswing in economic growth.

5. Slavery: While Monroe owned slaves, he was also a strong supporter of colonization, a movement that sought to remove free blacks from the United States and resettle them in Africa. He believed that this would help to alleviate the problem of slavery in the United States.

Overall, James Monroe was an important figure in American history who played a significant role in both the Revolutionary War and the early years of the United States as a nation.

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