1758年，詹姆斯·门罗在弗吉尼亚州出生。他是美国第五任总统，同时也是美国最后一位开国元勋。他16岁时继承了父亲的农场和财富。门罗1776年辍学从军。他于1780年至1783年重返学术生活，在托马斯·杰斐逊的门下学习法律。他认为律师职业能给予他“最直接的回报”。
In 1782, Monroe was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates and served in the Continental Congress between 1783 and 1786. As a youthful politician, he joined the anti-Federalists inthe Virginia Convention which ratified the Constitution. In 1790, he was elected as a United States Senator. He served as Minister to France from 1794 to 1796 and helped negotiate theLouisiana Purchase.
门罗1782年被选为弗吉尼亚州众议院代表，1783年至1786年任职于美国大陆会议。他在弗吉尼亚州大会上加入了反联邦党人一派，那时他还是位年轻的政治家。他于1790年被选为美国参议员。他于1794年至1796年担任驻法公使，协助谈判路易斯安那购买案。
His ambition and energy, together with the backing of President Madison, made him the Republican choice for the Presidency in 1816 and he was easily elected with little opposition.The Federalist opposition collapsed in disarray towards the end of his first term in office andhe won re-election unopposed in 1820 for a second term as President.
他的野心、精力，以及麦迪逊总统的支持，使他成为了1816年共和党总统的首选。他后来以绝对优势当选为美国总统。联邦反对党在他的第一个任期即将结束时陷入混乱。他于1820年又以极大优势获得美国总统的连任。
Monroe made strong Cabinet choices, naming a Southerner, John C. Calhoun, as Secretary ofWar, and a northerner, John Quincy Adams, as Secretary of State. In 1823 Monroe introduceda policy warning against European intervention in the Americas. Twenty years after he died in1831, this became known as the Monroe Doctrine. It is still used by modern-day presidents.
门罗组建了一个强有力的内阁班子，他任命南方人约翰·卡德威尔·卡尔霍恩（John C. Calhoun）为美国战争部长，北方人约翰·昆西·亚当斯（John Quincy Adams）为美国国务卿。门罗1823年发出政治警告，反对欧洲干预美洲事务。1831年门罗去世，20年后，这个政治警告被称为“门罗主义”。美国总统至今依以“门罗主义”作为指南。
