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'''James Monroe''' (1758-1831) was the 5th [[President of the United States of America]] (1817-1825), best known for sponsoring the Monroe Doctrine, and for presiding over a a period of peace and (mostly) prosperity and a lessening of partisan tensions known as the "Era of Good Feelings."  He was the last of the Virginia Dynasty that controlled the presidency for 32 of the 36 years from 1789 to 1825.  He held many political and diplomatic offices, and was a loyal lieutenant to the [[Democratic-Republican]] presidents [[Thomas Jefferson]] and [[James Madison]].  

'''James Monroe''' (1758-1831) was the 5th [[President of the United States of America]] (1817-1825), best known for sponsoring the Monroe Doctrine, and for presiding over a a period of peace and (mostly) prosperity and a lessening of partisan tensions known as the "[[Era of Good Feelings]]."  He was the last of the Virginia Dynasty that controlled the presidency for 32 of the 36 years from 1789 to 1825.  He held many political and diplomatic offices, and was a loyal lieutenant to the [[Democratic-Republican]] presidents [[Thomas Jefferson]] and [[James Madison]].  

==Early career==

==Early career==

[[Image:MONROE-ADMIN.JPG|thumb|left|425px]]

[[Image:MONROE-ADMIN.JPG|thumb|left|425px]]

===End of nasty partisanship===

===End of nasty partisanship===

Monroe deliberately downplayed party politics. With the death of the old Federalist party, old animosities faded away and few new ones emerged. Indeed, the Republican party itself faded away, as Monroe avoided using patronage to strengthen partisanship. To emphasize the coming era of national unity, Monroe followed Washington's example by embarking on a tour of the nation. He visited New England and the Middle Atlantic states in 1817, and the West and South in 1819. His purpose was clearly understood. Fittingly, it was in a Federalist newspaper, as the editor welcomed the approaching end of party warfare, that the phrase "Era of Good Feelings" was first used. Monroe's arrival became the scene of unprecedented demonstrations--troops of militia, parades, banquets, and delegations of citizens who greeted him enthusiastically not only as president but as a celebrated hero of the Revolution.  

Monroe deliberately downplayed party politics. With the death of the old Federalist party, old animosities faded away and few new ones emerged. Indeed, the Republican party itself faded away, as Monroe avoided using patronage to strengthen partisanship. To emphasize the coming era of national unity, Monroe followed Washington's example by embarking on a tour of the nation. He visited New England and the Middle Atlantic states in 1817, and the West and South in 1819. His purpose was clearly understood. Fittingly, it was in a Federalist newspaper, as the editor welcomed the approaching end of party warfare, that the phrase "[[Era of Good Feelings]]" was first used. Monroe's arrival became the scene of unprecedented demonstrations--troops of militia, parades, banquets, and delegations of citizens who greeted him enthusiastically not only as president but as a celebrated hero of the Revolution.  

===Panic of 1819===

===Panic of 1819===

A sharp financial disaster known as the [[Panic of 1819]] hit the country in 1819; many blamed the distress on the policies of the [[Second Bank of the United States]] (chartered in 1817 with Monroe's support), which was badly managed by [[William Jones]], its first president. Monroe, who considered the bank essential to ensure a sound currency and to control the careless habits of state banks in making loans, succeeded in 1819 in persuading the directors to replace Jones with [[Langdon Cheves]], a former Congressman and a far abler financier. Monroe approved Chief Justice [[John Marshall]]'s decision in [[McCulloch v. Maryland]] (1819), which upheld the constitutionality of the bank.

A sharp financial disaster known as the [[Panic of 1819]] hit the country in 1819; many blamed the distress on the policies of the [[Second Bank of the United States]] (chartered in 1817 with Monroe's support), which was badly managed by [[William Jones]], its first president. Monroe, who considered the bank essential to ensure a sound currency and to control the careless habits of state banks in making loans, succeeded in 1819 in persuading the directors to replace Jones with [[Langdon Cheves]], a former Congressman and a far abler financier. Monroe approved Chief Justice [[John Marshall]]'s decision in [[McCulloch v. Maryland]] (1819), which upheld the constitutionality of the bank.