James Monroe: Likeable
2023-03-26
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1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents.
2James Monroe easily won election in 1816.
3He had a relaxed, likeable personality and was popular with voters.
4In addition, many saw him as a last connection to the country's founding generation.
5Monroe had fought in George Washington's army during the Revolutionary War against British rule.
6He was a diplomat during Thomas Jefferson's presidency and helped complete the Louisiana Purchase.
7Monroe served as James Madison's secretary of state - and briefly as his secretary of war, as well - during the War of 1812.
8Voters' positive feelings carried Monroe into office and defined his presidency.
9When Monroe became president, the United States had just declared victory against British forces in the War of 1812.
10The American economy also was doing well, at least at first. And the government was mostly united under a single party.
11But Monroe did have one immediate problem: He and his wife, Elizabeth, could not move into the president's house right away.
12The British had burned it badly in an attack on Washington, D.C. Workers were busy making repairs.
13So, Monroe decided to go on a trip. He spent the first weeks of his presidency traveling.
14He went north into New England, visiting important places from the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812.
15Everywhere he went he reminded Americans of their shared, proud history.
16He even wore clothes in the old colonial style. One of Monroe's nicknames is "the last of the cocked hats."
17Then President Monroe turned west, toward lands that white migrants were increasingly settling.
18They were able to move west in part because American soldiers had defeated a powerful alliance of Native American tribes.
19What had been a victory for the U.S. government was a crushing loss for Native Americans.
20Many tribes moved farther west.
21Others began to lose their languages and their customs as white settlers took control.
22For Monroe, however, the visit west was a positive sign of the country's expansion.
23By the time he returned to Washington, Monroe had met many Americans.
24He had learned for himself the geography of the country.
25And he had demonstrated that all parts of the U.S. could be connected by patriotism and a common federal government.
26One newspaper called Monroe's presidency the beginning of an "Era of Good Feelings."
27Four years later, Monroe won a second term even more easily than his first.
28Yet James Monroe's presidency had several crises.
29One was the country's first economic depression in more than 30 years.
30Another was over slavery.
31The country had been divided over the issue since its founding.
32By the end of 1819, eleven states, all in the South, permitted slavery.
33Eleven states, all in the North, did not.
34The question became: Would the new states in the West permit it?
35Monroe had to face the question when settlers asked Congress permission for Missouri Territory to become a state.
36Many enslaved people already lived there. White settlers expected to bring more.
37But a member of Congress from a Northern state proposed that Missouri could become a state only if it banned slavery.
38That proposal started a debate that lasted more than a year.
39For the most part, the debate was not based on the moral problems with people owning other people.
40Instead, it involved economic and political concerns.
41Northerners argued that slave-holding states had an unfair economic advantage.
42In addition, if Missouri entered the Union as a slave state, its lawmakers would move the balance of power toward the South.
43The debate continued so long that another area asked to enter the Union.
44People in northern Massachusetts wanted to organize into an independent state called Maine.
45After some time, lawmakers offered a compromise.
46They said Maine could be admitted as a free state and Missouri as a slave state.
47But they also made a line across a map of the country.
48They said Congress would not admit another slave state north of that line.
49James Monroe signed into law what became known as the Missouri Compromise.
50It settled the issue of slavery, at least officially, in the U.S. for more than 20 years.
51But everyone knew that the peace between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups was only temporary.
52In 1823, Monroe made one of the most important foreign policy decisions in American history.
53It became known as the Monroe Doctrine.
54It related to Spain's colonies in Latin America.
55Monroe had dealt with Spain before.
56In his first term, he and his secretary of state, John Quincy Adams, successfully negotiated with Spain to buy Florida for the United States.
57By Monroe's second term, Spain had also lost control of some of its former colonies in Latin America.
58The president became concerned that Spain's European allies would try to help the country re-gain power.
59He did not want European powers interfering in areas so close to U.S. territory and so important to U.S. trade.
60So Monroe gave a speech to Congress.
61He said the U.S. would stay out of Europe's affairs.
62But he said Europe should also stay out of Latin America's affairs.
63And, Monroe declared that European powers would not be permitted to begin colonizing any area in the Western Hemisphere.
64In other words, Monroe declared that the U.S. considered the entire Western Hemisphere its sphere of influence.
65Historians note that Monroe did not aim for the declaration to be a major statement.
66But it became a base of American foreign policy and supported U.S. expansion throughout the 19th century.
67James Monroe was the fourth and last president in the "Virginia Dynasty."
68Except for John Adams, four of the first five American presidents were from Virginia.
69Monroe and his wife returned to their home there after he left office.
70They had a close relationship with each other, as well as with their two surviving children, both daughters.
71Unlike many politicians of his time, Monroe had brought his family with him on his travels.
72He also believed strongly in education for girls.
73When the Monroes lived in France, young Eliza Monroe attended the best school for girls in Paris.
74This loving family spent as much time together as possible.
75So, when Elizabeth Monroe died, James Monroe was filled with sorrow.
76His health also began to fail.
77He moved to the house of his younger daughter, Maria, in New York City.
78James Monroe died there one year later, at age 73.
79Like two other former presidents, Monroe died on the 4th of July - America's birthday.
80I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.
1VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents. 2James Monroe easily won election in 1816. He had a relaxed, likeable personality and was popular with voters. In addition, many saw him as a last connection to the country's founding generation. 3Monroe had fought in George Washington's army during the Revolutionary War against British rule. 4He was a diplomat during Thomas Jefferson's presidency and helped complete the Louisiana Purchase. 5Monroe served as James Madison's secretary of state - and briefly as his secretary of war, as well - during the War of 1812. 6Voters' positive feelings carried Monroe into office and defined his presidency. 7Era of Good Feelings 8When Monroe became president, the United States had just declared victory against British forces in the War of 1812. The American economy also was doing well, at least at first. And the government was mostly united under a single party. 9But Monroe did have one immediate problem: He and his wife, Elizabeth, could not move into the president's house right away. The British had burned it badly in an attack on Washington, D.C. Workers were busy making repairs. 10So, Monroe decided to go on a trip. He spent the first weeks of his presidency traveling. 11He went north into New England, visiting important places from the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812. Everywhere he went he reminded Americans of their shared, proud history. He even wore clothes in the old colonial style. One of Monroe's nicknames is "the last of the cocked hats." 12Then President Monroe turned west, toward lands that white migrants were increasingly settling. They were able to move west in part because American soldiers had defeated a powerful alliance of Native American tribes. 13What had been a victory for the U.S. government was a crushing loss for Native Americans. Many tribes moved farther west. Others began to lose their languages and their customs as white settlers took control. 14For Monroe, however, the visit west was a positive sign of the country's expansion. 15By the time he returned to Washington, Monroe had met many Americans. He had learned for himself the geography of the country. And he had demonstrated that all parts of the U.S. could be connected by patriotism and a common federal government. 16One newspaper called Monroe's presidency the beginning of an "Era of Good Feelings." 17Four years later, Monroe won a second term even more easily than his first. 18The Missouri Compromise 19Yet James Monroe's presidency had several crises. 20One was the country's first economic depression in more than 30 years. 21Another was over slavery. The country had been divided over the issue since its founding. By the end of 1819, eleven states, all in the South, permitted slavery. Eleven states, all in the North, did not. 22The question became: Would the new states in the West permit it? 23Monroe had to face the question when settlers asked Congress permission for Missouri Territory to become a state. Many enslaved people already lived there. White settlers expected to bring more. 24But a member of Congress from a Northern state proposed that Missouri could become a state only if it banned slavery. That proposal started a debate that lasted more than a year. 25For the most part, the debate was not based on the moral problems with people owning other people. Instead, it involved economic and political concerns. 26Northerners argued that slave-holding states had an unfair economic advantage. In addition, if Missouri entered the Union as a slave state, its lawmakers would move the balance of power toward the South. 27The debate continued so long that another area asked to enter the Union. People in northern Massachusetts wanted to organize into an independent state called Maine. 28After some time, lawmakers offered a compromise. They said Maine could be admitted as a free state and Missouri as a slave state. But they also made a line across a map of the country. They said Congress would not admit another slave state north of that line. 29James Monroe signed into law what became known as the Missouri Compromise. It settled the issue of slavery, at least officially, in the U.S. for more than 20 years. But everyone knew that the peace between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups was only temporary. 30The Monroe Doctrine 31In 1823, Monroe made one of the most important foreign policy decisions in American history. It became known as the Monroe Doctrine. It related to Spain's colonies in Latin America. 32Monroe had dealt with Spain before. In his first term, he and his secretary of state, John Quincy Adams, successfully negotiated with Spain to buy Florida for the United States. 33By Monroe's second term, Spain had also lost control of some of its former colonies in Latin America. The president became concerned that Spain's European allies would try to help the country re-gain power. He did not want European powers interfering in areas so close to U.S. territory and so important to U.S. trade. 34So Monroe gave a speech to Congress. He said the U.S. would stay out of Europe's affairs. But he said Europe should also stay out of Latin America's affairs. 35And, Monroe declared that European powers would not be permitted to begin colonizing any area in the Western Hemisphere. 36In other words, Monroe declared that the U.S. considered the entire Western Hemisphere its sphere of influence. 37Historians note that Monroe did not aim for the declaration to be a major statement. But it became a base of American foreign policy and supported U.S. expansion throughout the 19th century. 38Final years 39James Monroe was the fourth and last president in the "Virginia Dynasty." Except for John Adams, four of the first five American presidents were from Virginia. 40Monroe and his wife returned to their home there after he left office. They had a close relationship with each other, as well as with their two surviving children, both daughters. 41Unlike many politicians of his time, Monroe had brought his family with him on his travels. He also believed strongly in education for girls. When the Monroes lived in France, young Eliza Monroe attended the best school for girls in Paris. 42This loving family spent as much time together as possible. So, when Elizabeth Monroe died, James Monroe was filled with sorrow. His health also began to fail. 43He moved to the house of his younger daughter, Maria, in New York City. James Monroe died there one year later, at age 73. 44Like two other former presidents, Monroe died on the 4th of July - America's birthday. 45I'm Kelly Jean Kelly. 46Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 47See how well you understand the story of the fifth president by taking this listening quiz. Play each video and then choose the best answer. 48______________________________________________________________ 49Words in This Story 50relaxed - adj. informal and comfortable 51positive - adj. hopeful and optimistic 52remind - v. make someone think about something again 53geography - n. the natural features of a place 54advantage - n. a condition that helps to make something better or more likely to succeed than others 55affair - n. a matter that concerns or involves someone 56sphere of influence - n. an area of control or activity 57dynasty - n. a family, team, etc., that is very powerful or successful for a long period of time