What if I told you one U.S. president basically warned Europe to “stay out of our backyard” and it worked? That bold move came from James Monroe, the fifth president, whose name is still tied to one of America’s most famous foreign policy principles. Let’s step into his world and see what made him stand out. Who Was the Fifth President of the United States? The fifth president was James Monroe, serving from 1817 to 1825. He was the last of the Founding Fathers to hold the presidency and is often remembered for the “Era of Good Feelings.” That nickname came from a period of relative national unity after years of political tension. Monroe followed James Madison and was succeeded by John Quincy Adams, creating a presidential streak dominated by Virginia statesmen. The Era of Good Feelings Monroe’s presidency is often summed up by this phrase. But what does it mean? Political divisions eased after the War of 1812. The Federalist Party faded away, leaving the Democratic-Republi...