James Monroe

D

2

Return Home

When Monroe returned to the United States in June 1797, he found that political differences had deepened between his friends and the Federalists in power, now headed by President John Adams. His own relations with the Federalists had suffered because of his European mission. From this time on, Monroe identified himself more and more with the Anti-Federalists, soon to be called the Democratic-Republican Party. After two years of retirement from public office, Monroe was elected governor of Virginia. He served from 1799 to 1803, a relatively uneventful period in the history of the state.

On the national scene, however, a great political change occurred at this time. Jefferson was elected President in 1800, and the Democratic-Republican Party was gaining in popularity. In 1803 Monroe was named to be part of an “extraordinary mission” to France. He was to help negotiate what has been called the largest real estate transaction in history—the Louisiana Purchase.

D

3

Louisiana Purchase

When Monroe arrived in France, U.S. diplomat Robert R. Livingston was already deep in negotiations with the French for the acquisition of New Orleans and West Florida. French Emperor Napoleon I offered instead to sell not only New Orleans, but the entire Louisiana colony as well. However, no agreement was reached until Monroe arrived. Although the Americans were not authorized to make such a large purchase, they began negotiations. In April 1803, Monroe and Livingston concluded the treaty that would more than double the size of their nation. Although West Florida was Spanish territory and was not included in the bargain, Monroe pressed Napoleon to include his ally's property as well. Napoleon promised “to engage his support for our claim to the Floridas with Spain,” but this was as far as he would go.

D

4

Minister to Britain

As soon as the negotiations for the Louisiana Purchase were completed, Monroe crossed the English Channel to take up duties as minister plenipotentiary to Britain. His primary mission was to obtain relief from British harassment of U.S. shipping, such as the seizure of cargoes bound for French ports, which Jay's Treaty had not stopped. U.S. relations with Britain were particularly strained at this time, and Monroe made little headway. Therefore, he was sent to Madrid to explore Spain's readiness to consider a U.S. purchase of Florida. This errand also proved useless.

---

---

In July 1805 Monroe returned to Britain to negotiate a treaty, assisted by diplomat William Pinkney. However, the treaty was one of general agreement only and did not touch on two vital issues: a British blockade of French ports and the impressment, or forced induction, of American sailors into the British navy. It contained no concessions to the United States, and Jefferson wisely refused to submit it to the Senate for ratification. In late 1807 Monroe left for the United States.

E

Return to Politics

Monroe arrived in Washington, D.C., a few days before Jefferson signed the Embargo Act, which halted nearly all U.S. land and sea commerce with foreign nations. This measure was designed to hurt the British economy and thereby induce Britain to stop harassing U.S. vessels. It turned out, however, to be as much of a failure in this as was Monroe's treaty: British shippers actually profited from the removal of U.S. competition.

Monroe's old allies, Jefferson and Madison, were cool toward him after his return. This was because one faction of Jefferson's Democratic-Republican Party wanted Monroe as a rival presidential candidate to Madison, Jefferson's secretary of state and chosen successor, and Monroe did little to disavow the action. He was bitter over the rejection of his treaty, and he did not support Madison in the election of 1808. Moreover, Monroe's supporters, led by Jefferson's enemy, Congressman John Randolph, made it seem that Monroe was encouraging them.

In September, Monroe sent Jefferson all correspondence he had had with Randolph to assure him there was “nothing ... to sanction what has been most ungenerously insinuated.” But the old friendship among Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe remained disturbed for some time, and Madison did not offer Monroe a Cabinet post when he became president in 1809.

Returning to Virginia politics, Monroe once more served in the legislature and was for a second time elected governor. During these years, thanks to a long and honest correspondence between them, the rift with Jefferson was gradually healed. When, in 1811, Madison invited Monroe to become secretary of state, the friendship of the three Virginians was reestablished.

F

Secretary of State and of War

When Monroe became secretary of state, relations with Britain had worsened. With both Monroe's treaty and the Embargo Act having failed to halt British interference with shipping, war now seemed certain. Monroe nevertheless worked to prevent it. Unlike Madison, he favored a less aggressive attitude toward Britain. The French had also been confiscating cargoes—in this case, those bound for British ports—and in Monroe's opinion France's provocations were just as bad as those of Britain. But the administration and Congress seemed determined to have war with Britain, influenced partly by the prospect of annexing British-held territory in North America and also, since Spain was now Britain's ally, Florida as well.

	More from Encarta
	•  7 tips for funding an online degree •  How to succeed in the fashion industry without being a top designer •  Presidential Myths Quiz •  Coffee break: Recharge your brain