James Monroe: Our Fifth President

In reading the various juvenile biographies of James Monroe I have decided that what I learned in school about the fifth President was an inadequate measure of the man. The two things that were hammered home about Monroe was that he wrote the Monroe Doctrine, which told the European nations to stay out of the New World, and that his two terms in the White House were known as the Era of Good Feelings, a polite way of saying nothing significant happened. What I have discovered is that, like the Declaration of Independence, the Monroe Doctrine has become even more important today. After all, the idea that "all men are created equal" was not readily accepted or acted upon until Abraham Lincoln gave the words new political potency at in the Gettysburg Address. The Monroe Doctrine did more than tell the European powers to stay on their side of the globe; it established a principle for self-determination that is at the basis of the proposed democratization of Iraq. Ann Graham Gaines wrote this volume for the Our Presidents series and focuses primarily on the details of Monroe's political career. There is relatively less about his private life, mainly because Monroe apparently made a point of providing little or no details about his youth and family. Once again, there are four chapters: A Start in Politics focuses primarily on his military service during the American Revolution (he is the young officer holding the flag in the famous painting of "Washington Crossing the Delaware"). Monroe was a bit too young to be a Founding Father, coming as he did from Virginia, which had plenty of great men before him in line. In fact, Monroe voted against ratifying the Constitution because of it took power away from the states and gave it to the federal government. Life as a Diplomatic covers Monroe's impressive diplomatic resume as the United States representative to France, where he helped negotiate the Louisiana Purchase along with Robert Livingston. Although Monroe did serve as Governor of Virginia, he made a bigger mark on diplomatic missions to England and Spain. Blessed with Peace covers Monroe's moment of glory comes during the War of 1812. Already Secretary of State in the Madison administration, Monroe because Secretary of War as well after the British attacked Washington. Young readers will undoubtedly be struck by the idea of a cabinet member who was a combination of Colin Powell and Donald Rumsfeld. Because of that service Monroe was the obvious choice to follow James Madison in the White House. A World Power looks at both of Monroe's terms in office and his final years after leaving politics. This is where the Monroe Doctrine comes into play and offers an interesting twist on George Washington's foreign policy dictum for the government not to become entangled in foreign alliances. Young readers and their teachers should pay attention to the description of that doctrine, which emphasizes the commitment to democratic governments. As