Today in History: James Monroe

Today in History–October 17–the Library of Congress features James Monroe, who wrote wrote a letter on this date in 1823 to friend and former president Thomas Jefferson seeking advice on foreign policy. Both Jefferson and  James Madison, another former president, advised Monroe to join with Great Britain in a declaration warning other European nations not to intervene in the affairs of Central and South America. Monroe, however, took the advice of his secretary of state, John Quincy Adams, and chose to issue a declaration apart from Great Britain, a policy known as the Monroe Doctrine. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section then click the links below to access more stories and primary sources about James Monroe.

Primary sources

• James Monroe first inauguration primary source set
• James Monroe second inauguration primary source set
• James Monroe Papers
• Letter James Monroe to Thomas Jefferson, Oct. 17, 1823
• Letter James Madison to James Monroe, Oct. 30, 1823
• James Monroe manuscripts & mixed materials
• James Monroe historical newspaper coverage 1789-1832
• President Monroe historical newspaper coverage 1797-1801
• The tour of James Monroe: president of the United States, through the northern and eastern states, in 1817 ; his tour in the year 1818 ; together with a sketch of
• James Monroe images
•  Monroe Doctrine: Primary Documents in American History
• Missouri Compromise: Primary Documents in American History

Stories from America’s Library

• U.S. President James Monroe
• Monroe’s Popular Presidency
• The 1820 Missouri Compromise
• James Monroe Seeks Advice from Thomas Jefferson 
• The Monroe Doctrine

More resources

• POTUS: James Monroe
• Virginia Dynasty: James Monroe In Custodia Legis blog post February 1, 2016
• James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library
• U.S. President primary source collections