It is with great pleasure that we dedicate the April 2017 issue of the Grateful American™ Magazine to the fifth U.S. president — James Monroe, born April 28, 1758.

He won the election of 1816 — the eighth quadrennial presidential election — which stretched over more than a month, from Nov. 1 to Dec. 4, 1816. Monroe’s ascendance to the highest office of the land followed the two-term presidency of Democratic-Republican James Madison. Monroe, who had served as Madison’s Secretary of State, faced very weak opposition from the Federalist Party and won the Electoral College vote 183 to 34.

The previous four years of American politics had been dominated by the effects of the War of 1812.

While the war had not ended in victory, the 1815 peace satisfied the American people, and the Democratic-Republicans received the credit for its conclusion. The Federalists discovered they were discredited by their opposition to the war, and the secessionist rhetoric from New England.

Madison had succeeded in achieving certain measures favored by the Federalists; for example, a national bank and protective tariffs. These successes gave the Federalists few issues to campaign on, which contributed to the overwhelming victory for the Democratic-Republicans. Learn more here.

Scroll down for historic insights on the inauguration of President Monroe by Dr. Cassandra Good, the associate editor of the The Papers of James Monroe at the University of Mary Washington, and author of “Founding Friendships.”

Here’s to bringing American history to life! — David Bruce Smith, founder, and Hope Katz Gibbs, executive producer, GratefulAmericanFoundation.com / GratefulAmericanKids.com