roe's first child, Eliza, was born and he later had another daughter, Maria Hester, and a son who died young in 1800.
             When settled in Fredericksburg, Monroe resumed his political career. In the spring of 1787 he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, and because of his standings, Monroe was later called to consider ratification of the new constitution. By this time Monroe had agreed to strong state rights as portrayed in Virginia, and he began to fear that the new constitution concentrated on the federal government having too much power.
             In December 1790 Monroe arrived in Philadelphia to join the Congress. Jefferson, secretary of state, stayed at the same boardinghouse as Representative Madison. Jefferson and Madison, destined to have an effect on the country's future, invited Monroe to join them. Following this, Monroe assumed leadership in the Senate over the Republicans, and Jefferson held authority over Monroe.
             Monroe and other Republicans held firm convictions of the Federalist from that of Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of Treasury, intended to form a highly centralized government of the United States. Republicans believed the Federalist government would produce selfish interest of the wealthy men in commerce. Monroe worked against Federalist powers on strengthening government control over the states.
             In 1799, Monroe ran as the Republican candidate for governor of Virginia. He won the office and held it for three years. After his only son died in 1800, Monroe faced an important problem as governor. He encountered the first major slave revolt of the 19th century called Gabriel's uprising. Monroe worked quickly to control the manpower needed to defeat these slaves. He put down the slaves and hoped for a peaceful end to any slave revolt.
             After retiring from the governor position in 1801, Monroe decided to set up a law practice in Richmond. Over the next two years he declined publi...