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President Jefferson sent Monroe to France to help Robert R. Livingston, the U.S. minister, negotiate for the purchase of the mouth of the Mississippi River.  They instead purchased the [[Louisiana Purchase|entire Louisiana Territory]] in a spectacular diplomatic triumph. Monroe became minister to the Court of St. James (Britain) but Jefferson rejected the treaty Monroe negotiated because it would not allow the U.S. to engage in commercial warfare against Britain. Monroe went to Spain, which rejected the American offer to purchase the Spanish Floridas. Monroe returned home in 1807, expecting Jefferson's support for the presidency, and insisted upon being a candidate for the Republican nomination even when Jefferson and most party leaders wanted [[James Madison]] to get the nomination. Madison was elected.

President Jefferson sent Monroe to France to help Robert R. Livingston, the U.S. minister, negotiate for the purchase of the mouth of the Mississippi River.  They instead purchased the [[Louisiana Purchase|entire Louisiana Territory]] in a spectacular diplomatic triumph. Monroe became minister to the Court of St. James (Britain) but Jefferson rejected the treaty Monroe negotiated because it would not allow the U.S. to engage in commercial warfare against Britain. Monroe went to Spain, which rejected the American offer to purchase the Spanish Floridas. Monroe returned home in 1807, expecting Jefferson's support for the presidency, and insisted upon being a candidate for the Republican nomination even when Jefferson and most party leaders wanted [[James Madison]] to get the nomination. Madison was elected.

Monroe was a talented diplomat with a fatal flaw that ruined some of his efforts: he never appreciated that he was a representative of the President and the government and had to articulate and advance its objectives. Unlike his Secretary [[John Quincy Adams]] (who drafted the [[Monrow Doctrine]], Monroe never had a broad vision for his own nation.

Monroe was a talented diplomat with a fatal flaw that ruined some of his efforts: he never appreciated that he was a representative of the President and the government and had to articulate and advance its objectives. Unlike his Secretary [[John Quincy Adams]] (who drafted the [[Monroe Doctrine]], Monroe never had a broad vision for his own nation.

As minister to France, he openly sided with the radical factions in the [[French Revolution]], encouraged France to go to war with Britain, and tried to arrange a loan from the U.S. government.  At the same time the Washington Administration was negotiating the [[Jay Treaty]] with Britain, which ended the risk of war between the U.S. and Britain, and opened up a decade of highly profitable foreign trade that dramatically improved the American economy.  Monroe opposed the Jay Treaty and told the French it would be overturned after the Jeffersonians won the 1796 presidential election. (They lost the election and the treaty stayed in effect).  When his foolish behavior was discovered, he was recalled home.<ref> Gordon Wood, ''Empire of Liberty'' (2009) p. 205</ref>

As minister to France, he openly sided with the radical factions in the [[French Revolution]], encouraged France to go to war with Britain, and tried to arrange a loan from the U.S. government.  At the same time the Washington Administration was negotiating the [[Jay Treaty]] with Britain, which ended the risk of war between the U.S. and Britain, and opened up a decade of highly profitable foreign trade that dramatically improved the American economy.  Monroe opposed the Jay Treaty and told the French it would be overturned after the Jeffersonians won the 1796 presidential election. (They lost the election and the treaty stayed in effect).  When his foolish behavior was discovered, he was recalled home.<ref> Gordon Wood, ''Empire of Liberty'' (2009) p. 205</ref>