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To what, then, do we owe these blessings? It is known to all that we derive them from the excellence of our institutions. Ought we not, then, to adopt every measure which may be necessary to perpetuate them? Seventh Annual Message (Monroe Doctrine)

Seventh Annual Message (Monroe Doctrine)

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Legacy

Monroe is well known for his efforts at compromise, and his first term as president is accordingly remembered as the “Era of Good Feelings” for his cooperative nature and the end of bitterness over the War of 1812. He did, however, face two significant problems as president. The first problem was that Florida was owned by Spain, and members of the Seminole Nation living there continuously raided the U.S. The U.S. troops retaliated in 1818, and war seemed imminent. In 1819, however, Spain relinquished Florida, which gave the U.S. control of all the land east of the Mississippi River. The second problem involved the issue of slavery. Monroe opposed slavery, as did much of the nation. To strike a reasonable balance, Monroe agreed to the Missouri Compromise that had been negotiated in Congress. The Compromise mandated that the number of pro-slavery and anti-slavery states must be equal.

Monroe also established a new foreign policy for the U.S. that defined its relationship to the world. This policy became later known as the Monroe Doctrine and stated that the U.S. would not allow any European country to colonize the “new world” of the Americas or to interfere with its governments.