Monroe, James (Administration)

James Monroe was born and raised in Virginia and served as a colonel in the American Revolution. A close friend of Thomas Jefferson, he studied law and became deeply interested in politics. He also was close with James Madison, with whom he served in both the Continental Congress and the Virginia Assembly. Despite this friendship, Monroe strongly opposed ratification of the Constitution in 1787, taking particular exception to taxation and the numerous powers provided to the Senate. Monroe even ran against Madison for a House of Representatives seat (at the urging of Patrick Henry), but would not make his way into Washington, D.C., politics until winning a Senate seat two years later. Once in Congress, he became an ally of both Madison and Jefferson as ...