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James Monroe participated in the Battle of Trenton.
James Monroe server as an officer in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. He was 18 and serving under Captain William Washington. During the battle, Monroe was severely wounded and just barely saved by a young doctor named John Riker. -
Monroe Server as a U.S. Minister to France.
From 1794 to 1796, Monroe was appointed Minister to France. His most memorable thing as Minister to France was that he arranged the release of all Americans held in French prisons. He was discharged from his position as Minister to France in 1796. -
Monroe Served as Secretary of State and Secretary of War.
James Monroe became the Secretary of State in 1811 then Secretary of War in 1812 against Great Britain. He stayed the Secretary of War until 1814 when the peace treaty was ratified. -
Monroe became the 5th President of the United States
Monroe won the 1816 United States presidential election by defeating Rufus King by a wide margin of 183 to 34. In the 1820 re-election, he was elected almost unopposed winning more than 80% of the popular vote. -
The Era of Good Feelings
The Era of Good Feelings was a term used to refer to the period after the war of 1812. It saw an end to bitter political divisions between Federalists and Republicans. He made two long national tours in 1817 to build national trust. -
The Treaty of 1818 was signed in his term.
In 1818 a treaty was signed between the U.K. and the US to resolve long-standing boundary issues. This improved the US relations with the U.K. and Canada. -
The Florida Purchase
Spain was neglecting the American efforts to purchase Florida. Due to the Latin American Wars of Independence and no Spanish presence in Florida the region was basically not owned by Spain. Spain then sold Florida to America for 5 million due to damage. -
Monroe extended recognition to the new countries formed in Latin America.
James Monroe said that the US sees all Latin American colonies independent and would support inter-American congress dedicated to the development of the colonies. -
The Monroe Doctrine is considered a defining moment in US foreign policy.
James Monroe’s most famous achievement was the declaration of the Monroe Doctrine to Congress on December 2, 1823. Authored by John Quincy Adams, it stated that U.S. would regard further efforts by European nations to colonize states in the American continents as acts of aggression, requiring its intervention. However, it would not interfere in the affairs of existing European colonies, implying it wouldn’t support the independence movements taking place in the Americas. -
The Capital City of Liberia was named after James Monroe
Monrovia, the capital and most populous city in Liberia, is named after James Monroe. It is the only non-American capital city named after a U.S. President.
