What were the main policies of president James Monroe?

Answer 1

Monroe Doctrine

Answer 2

Major Domestic Policy: Monroe was president during the "Era of Good Feelings." In other words, there was no division in the country after the demise of the Federalists. Even though everything seemed to be running smoothly, the government would soon be faced with the dilemma of Sectionalism. The country was split in to three; the North, the South, and the West. The West would be the side who made most of the decisions, because the North and the South would always fall on the opposite sides of an argument. One of the first major arguments that split the country was the Missouri Compromise. This Compromise created the state of Maine to keep a balance of anti and pro-slave representation in Congress when Missouri would become a state. This compromise also created the 36:30 line, where slavery was illegal above it. The South was for slavery, and the North was anti-slavery. Both sides had essentially the same amount of states. In 1824, another argument came about that accentuated the split country. The Tariff of 1824 was about to be passed that would raise protective rates. The North was for it, and the South was against it. The West once again became the deciding factor. They voted for it, and the tariff was passed.

 Panic of 1819: The nation faced a depression and a severe economic downturn. This panic was the first to be directly caused by the economy in the U.S. and not economies overseas. This panic was characterized by foreclosures, bank failures, unemployment, and a collapse in agriculture and manufacturing.

 The American System: This was part of Henry Clay's argument for a higher tariff. He believed the tariff would stimulate American economics (more specifically manufacturing and agriculture) by insulating the domestic economy from different foreign products. The American System included money for internal improvements, a protective tariff, and power to the national bank.

Major Foreign Policy: During the presidency of Monroe, Europe was at peace. The U.S. was growing, and wanted to expand. Florida was a piece of land that the U.S. did not own, and it was favorable for its commerce. On the downside, many hostile Native Americans lived in that region. The army pushed the Native Americans back, and they claimed Pensacola. The U.S. sent representatives to Spain, and reached an agreement. The U.S. gained Florida for $5 million, but lost some of its Mexican territory. Shortly after, Monroe created a new foreign policy. He stated that if any European country would try to colonize the Americas, then their actions would be seen as a threat to the well being of the U.S. and proper actions would be taken. This statement became known as the Monroe Doctrine and established the U.S. as a country ready to become a World Power.

 Adams-Onis Treaty: This treaty established definite boundaries for the Louisiana Purchase, secured Spanish claims to Oregon, and gave the United States Florida.

 Rush-Bagot Agreement: Between the U.S. and Great Britain concerning the Canadian border. Disarmed troops on the boundary and limited each nation to 4 ships of 100 tons each.

Answer 3

In an administration committed to limited government, domestic policies received less attention. Monroe's most positive program was the construction of a network of coastal fortifications to guard against future invasions. Although extensive construction was begun, the program was drastically reduced after the Panic of 1819, when government revenues fell sharply. Monroe, interpreting the economic crisis in the narrow monetary terms then current, limited governmental action to economizing and to ensuring fiscal stability. Although he agreed to the need for improved transportation facilities, he refused to approve appropriations for internal improvements without prior amendment of the Constitution.

The calm of the Era of Good Feelings was permanently shattered by the Missouri crisis of 1819-1820, which exposed an unsuspected depth of sectional hostility. Monroe's role in the conflict was peripheral, because it was contrary to Republican doctrine for the executive to exert direct pressure on Congress. Once the compromise was worked out, Monroe gave it his full support. It admitted Maine as a free state and Missouri without restriction on slavery, barring slavery north of the 36degrees30' line of latitude within the Louisiana Territory.

Monroe shared the widely held view that the effort to restrict slavery in Missouri sprang not from a selfless concern for the welfare of the slaves but from the ambitions of ex-Federalists and discontented Republicans, notably Gov. DeWitt Clinton of New York, to revive the two-party system on a sectional basis. The Missouri crisis had no effect on the presidential election of 1820. The Federalist party had disappeared as a force in national politics, and Monroe, unopposed, got all of the electoral votes but one.

Monroe's second term was rendered uncomfortable by the bitterness created by the Missouri debates and by the rivalry of the aspirants to succeed him as president. In the absence of party machinery, they sought to advance their individual candidacies by attacking administration policies. The activities of Crawford's supporters seeking to damage Secretary of State Adams caused a major setback in foreign policy in 1824, when the Senate so amended an Anglo-American agreement to suppress the international slave trade that the British government refused to ratify. As a result, hopes for an Anglo-American rapprochement were crushed. Calhoun's rivals also blocked administration efforts (Indian affairs were then under the War Department) to begin a more generous policy toward Indians.

Answer 4

The monroe Docterine der...