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Birth
He was born in a small farm in east Virginia to Andrew Monroe and Elizabeth Jones Monroe. -
Education
Monroe entered William and Mary College in Williamsburg in 1774. -
Joining the Army
Monroe soon left school to fight in the war. He joined the Third Virginia Infantry and, after proving his skills with a rifle, became a liuetenant. -
Monroe Gets Lucky
George Washington had just recently decided to cross the Delaware River to attack Trenton, New Jersey. Monroe volunteered to join one of the units. In the battle following, Monroe was hit in the shoulder by a bullet that scratched one of his arteries. The night before, he had met a doctor and recruited him for duty as a medic. That doctor treated the wound, effectively saving Monroe's life. -
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Valley Forge
Monroe, being in the army during the war, spent time at Valley forger, becoming a better soldier. Marqui de Lafayette came from France to speed up this process. -
Sate Legislature
In 1782 he attained a spotin the state legislature. He was later elected to the Governor's Council, those who approved the governor's actions. The following year the state legislature chose Monroe to represent Virginia in the Continental Congress, leading to him signing the constitution. -
Law
He studied law under Thomas Jefferson until 1783 -
Monroe Gets Really Lucky
In 1786 Monroe married eighteen-year-old Elizabeth Kortright. Of which he had two kids, Eliza and Maria Monroe. -
Constitution Signing
James Monroe was a part of the Constitutuional Convention. Because of this, he signed their constitution. -
Louisiana Purchase
James Monroe, along with Thomas Jefferson, his main man, helped convince Napoleon to sell the Louisiana Territory. -
War of 1812
Due to his military background, Monroe was also appointed as secretary of war during the war of 1812. When the British marched on Washington in 1814, Secretary Monroe went out to see the British advance and warned Madison of the impending armies. -
Elected
Monroe was elected in 1816, starting the spansion of time that would later be known as the "Era of Good Feelings" due to the increased nationalism people were feeling at the time. -
First inaugural Address
Since the Capitol was under construction due the burning, Monroe offered to take his oath of office at the "Brick Capitol". "I should be destitute of feeling if I was not deeply affected by the strong proof which my fellow-citizens have given me of their confidence in calling me to the high office whose functions I am about to assume. As the expression of their good opinion of my conduct in the public service, I derive from it a gratification which those who are conscious of having done..." -
Florida vs Monroe
The United States had been trying for years to buy Florida from Spain. In 1818, Monroe ordered General Andrew Jackson to put down an uprising among the Seminole Indians in Georgia, telling him to go into Florida if necassary. Although Jackson overstepped his orders, raising the United States flag over a Florida town and executing two people suspected of helping the Seminoles, his actions resulted in gaining the territory from Spain. -
Missouri Compromise
In 1819 Missouri applied to be admitted to the Union. The only problem was this new territory would be a slave state. This created a rising issue between every member of Congress. Eventually, in an agreement known as the Missouri Compromise, it was agreed that no slave states would be admitted over a certain point of latitude. Monroe, a slave-owner, signed the agreement allowing Maine to be allowed in as well as Missouri, to keep the balance. -
Reelection
Monroe was reelected in 1820. -
Second Inaugural Address
This was his second speech going into office. "That these powerful causes exist, and that they are permanent, is my fixed opinion; that they may produce a like accord in all questions touching, however remotely, the liberty, prosperity, and happiness of our country will always be the object of my most fervent prayers to the Supreme Author of All Good." -
Spain Intervention
Monroe's suspicions were confirmed when the new alliance approved the advances of France's military power so that it could invade Spain to overthrow the government there and reestablish the country as a monarch. It followed the order that Spain would then be joined by the other monarchies in reclaiming Spanish holdings in Latin America. This would mean that the commercial trade in Latin America to America would be stopped. -
Monroe Doctrine
Was outlined in 1823 and stated that the western hemisphere was not up for European invasion. It stated that America would use force if necessary. -
Debts
In 1824 Monroe left the job of presidency. Salaries for public officials were low in the 1800's and his years of work in the government left him with countless loans.It was so bad he even had to sell his Virginia territory. Finally the government recognized his great work by voting him a payment of $30,000. However it was too late, as he died soon after. -
Death
Due to some unfortunate events, and a belated paycheck, Monroe died as a poor man on July 4, 1831.