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Line 30: − + − + + + + + + + + + + + + − 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 did not end the impressment (seizure) of American sailors. Relations spiraled toward war. 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.
→Diplomacy: evaluation
==Diplomacy==
==Diplomacy==
President Washington appointed Monroe as minister to France in 1794, charged with removing the serious tension between the two countries, at a time the treaty of alliance of 1778 was still in effect. France was at war with Britain. The appointment kept a prominent Jeffersonian in office after Jefferson himself went into retirement. Monroe made little progress because [[Alexander Hamilton]] had shaped a pro-British foreign policy by means of the [[Jay Treaty]] of 1794. Monroe was too obvious in his sympathy for the Terror stage of the [[French Revolution]], and
President Washington appointed Monroe as minister to France in 1794, charged with removing the serious tension between the two countries, at a time the treaty of alliance of 1778 was still in effect. France was at war with Britain. The appointment kept a prominent Jeffersonian in office after Jefferson himself went into retirement. Monroe made little progress because [[Alexander Hamilton]] had shaped a pro-British foreign policy by means of the [[Jay Treaty]] of 1794. Monroe was too obvious in his sympathy for the Terror stage of the [[French Revolution]], and
he was recalled in 1796. Monroe published a lengthy defense, which Washington considered as a personal attack. Monroe
he was recalled in 1796. Monroe published a lengthy defense, which Washington considered as a personal attack.
was elected governor of Virginia in 1799-1802. He proved himself a popular executive and an able administrator. His effective handling of the abortive slave uprising known as [[Gabriel's Rebellion]] was highly praised by the planter class.
Monroe was elected governor of Virginia in 1799-1802. He proved himself a popular executive and an able administrator. His effective handling of the abortive slave uprising known as [[Gabriel's Rebellion]] was highly praised by the planter class.
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 diplomatic 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.
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 special envoy to France in 1803 Monroe did an excellent job in negotiating the [[Louisiana Purchase]].
But as Jefferson's minister to Britain in 1806 it was Monroe's duty to extend the advantageous Jay Treaty, but he again misread the intentions of his own government. The treaty he negotiated and signed with offered new advantages to the U.S. but was rejected by Jefferson, who wanted no treaty and instead turned the U.S. onto a path leading to war with Britain in 1812.<ref> Gordon Wood, ''Empire of Liberty'' (2009) p. 645</ref>
==War of 1812==
==War of 1812==
Returning to Virginia politics, Monroe was elected to the legislature in 1810 and was chosen governor for the second time in 1811. Meanwhile, the Madison administration, confronted by a possible war, needed strengthening. Monroe accepted the position of secretary of state in 1811. For a time he believed that the difficulties between the United States and Britain could be solved peacefully, but after long and fruitless negotiations he came to the conclusion that the [[War of 1812]] was inevitable. In 1814, largely at his insistence, John Armstrong, the incumbent secretary of war, was forced to resign and Monroe took over the office, simultaneous with the State department, in which he displayed his usual energy and administrative ability. He held it until March 1815. The American victories at the end of the war dramatically changed the national mood from despair to joyous celebration of independence and Monroe was almost unanimously made the choice of the Republican caucus in Congress (which selected the party candidate) in 1816. He easily defeated Federalist Rufus King.
Returning to Virginia politics, Monroe was elected to the legislature in 1810 and was chosen governor for the second time in 1811. Meanwhile, the Madison administration, confronted by a possible war, needed strengthening. Monroe accepted the position of secretary of state in 1811. For a time he believed that the difficulties between the United States and Britain could be solved peacefully, but after long and fruitless negotiations he came to the conclusion that the [[War of 1812]] was inevitable. In 1814, largely at his insistence, John Armstrong, the incumbent secretary of war, was forced to resign and Monroe took over the office, simultaneous with the State department, in which he displayed his usual energy and administrative ability. He held it until March 1815. The American victories at the end of the war dramatically changed the national mood from despair to joyous celebration of independence and Monroe was almost unanimously made the choice of the Republican caucus in Congress (which selected the party candidate) in 1816. He easily defeated Federalist Rufus King.