Monroe became President after more than 40 years of public service. He had fought in the Revolutionary War. During the first years after independence, he had served in the Virginia Assembly and in the Congress of the Confederation. He later became a U.S. Senator; minister to France, Spain, and Great Britain; and governor of Virginia. During the War of 1812, he served as Secretary of State and Secretary of War at the same time.
In appearance and manner, Monroe resembled his fellow Virginian, George Washington. He was tall and rawboned, and had a military bearing. His gray-blue eyes invited confidence. Even John Quincy Adams, who criticized almost everyone, spoke well of Monroe.
At his inauguration, Monroe still wore his hair in the old-fashioned way, powdered and tied in a queue at the back. He favored suits of black broadcloth with knee breeches and buckles on the shoes. To the people, he represented the almost legendary heroism of the generation which led the country to freedom.
As President, Monroe presided quietly during a period known as "the era of good feeling." He looked forward to America's glorious future, the outlines of which emerged rapidly during his presidency. The frontier was moving rapidly westward, and small cities sprang up west of the Mississippi River. Monroe sent General Andrew Jackson on a military expedition into Florida which resulted in the purchase of Florida from Spain. Rapidly expanding frontiers soon caused Americans to consider whether slavery should be permitted in the new territories. The Missouri Compromise "settled" this problem for nearly 30 years by setting definite limits to the extension of slavery in land lying within the Louisiana Purchase area.
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