James Monroe was the last Founding Father to serve as President and the final member of the "Virginia Dynasty." A Revolutionary War hero who crossed the Delaware with Washington, he bridged the gap between the generation of 1776 and the new age of Jacksonian democracy.

His presidency (1817–1825) is known as the "Era of Good Feelings," a period of one-party rule (the Federalists had collapsed) and surging nationalism. However, this label masked deep sectional cracks, including the Panic of 1819 and the fierce debate over the Missouri Compromise.

His most enduring legacy is the Monroe Doctrine (1823), a bold foreign policy statement warning European powers that the Western Hemisphere was closed to future colonization. Though largely written by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, it established the U.S. as the dominant power in the Americas.

Under his watch, the U.S. acquired Florida from Spain (Adams-Onís Treaty), resolving a long-standing border crisis and ending the use of the peninsula as a haven for escaped slaves and Seminole raiders.

Like Jefferson and Madison, Monroe died on July 4th (in 1831), becoming the third president to pass away on Independence Day, a coincidence that stunned the nation.

"He was the last of the cocked hats, a Revolutionary soldier who became the architect of American dominance in the Western Hemisphere."

James Monroe: The Last Founding Father

James Monroe was the ultimate resume builder of the early republic. Before becoming President, he had been a Senator, Governor of Virginia, Minister to France and Britain, Secretary of State, and Secretary of War (simultaneously!). He was physically wounded at the Battle of Trenton in the Revolutionary War, carrying a musket ball in his shoulder for the rest of his life. When he took office in 1817, he famously wore the style of the old revolution—knee breeches and tricorn hats—long after they had gone out of fashion, earning him the nickname "The Last Cocked Hat."

His presidency is often remembered for its foreign policy triumphs. The acquisition of Florida in 1819 finally secured the southern border, and the Monroe Doctrine in 1823 drew a line in the sand against European imperialism. But domestically, Monroe presided over a nation that was beginning to tear itself apart. The Missouri Compromise of 1820, which he signed, temporarily settled the issue of slavery's expansion by drawing a geographical line across the continent. Monroe, a lifelong enslaver who owned a plantation called Highland (near Jefferson’s Monticello), privately believed slavery would eventually end but did nothing to hasten its demise, supporting instead the colonization of freed slaves to Africa (which is why the capital of Liberia is named Monrovia).

Monroe left office popular but destitute. He had spent decades in public service, often using his own money to fund diplomatic missions. He was forced to sell his beloved Highland estate to pay off debts and spent his final years living in a spare room at his daughter’s house in New York City. He died there on July 4, 1831—exactly five years after Jefferson and Adams—marking the symbolic end of the Founding Era.

Constituency Context: The United States (1820 Census Data) Population: ~9.6 Million.

The Growth: The population had grown by a massive 33% since 1810. The country was moving West at a breakneck pace.

Demographics:

Enslaved Population: ~1.5 Million (roughly 16% of the total population).

Urbanization: For the first time, a U.S. city (New York) surpassed 100,000 residents.

New States: During his presidency, Mississippi (1817), Illinois (1818), Alabama (1819), Maine (1820), and Missouri (1821) joined the Union.

The Economy: The Panic of 1819 was the first major peacetime financial crisis in U.S. history, causing widespread bank failures and foreclosures, shattering the illu...

Clay Higgins is widely known by his viral nickname, the "Cajun John Wayne," a moniker he earned as a Crime Stoppers spokesman for the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office, where his menacing, unscripted videos warning criminals to "pack a lunch" made him an internet sensation.

He represents Louisiana’s 3rd District, the heart of Acadiana (Cajun Country). The district includes Lafayette and Lake Charles and is the epicenter of the American energy industry, hosting critical Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export terminals in Cameron Parish.

A former U.S. Army Military Police officer and SWAT operator, Higgins brings a "street cop" intensity to Washington. He serves on the House Oversight Committee, where he chairs the Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement, using the gavel to aggressively investigate federal agencies like the FBI and DHS.

His legislative style is defined by his staunch defense of American sovereignty and the fossil fuel industry. He was instrumental in pushing for the approval of major LNG projects like Venture Global CP2 and Commonwealth LNG, arguing that exporting Louisiana natural gas is a geopolitical weapon against adversaries like Russia.

"He went from making viral videos in a sheriff's uniform to grilling federal agents in a suit. Clay Higgins is the 'Cajun John Wayne' who views his seat in Congress as just a bigger beat to patrol."

Clay Higgins: The Officer from Acadiana

Representative Clay Higgins has one of the most distinct paths to Congress in modern history. He didn't rise through the state legislature or the boardroom; he rose through YouTube. As the Public Information Officer for the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office, Higgins began filming Crime Stoppers segments that broke every rule of police PR. Instead of dryly reading a script, he stared into the camera, addressed suspects by name, and delivered ominous, biblical warnings like, "You will be hunted. You will be trapped." The videos garnered millions of views globally, earning him the nickname "Cajun John Wayne."

However, his law enforcement career ended in controversy. In 2016, he resigned from the Sheriff's Office after a video targeting the "Gremlins" street gang drew criticism for its dehumanizing language (calling suspects "animals" and "heathens"). Higgins famously announced his resignation on the courthouse steps, declaring, "I will not kneel." That moment of defiance launched his political career. He ran for Congress later that year as an outsider and won decisively in a crowded field.

In Washington, Higgins has maintained that same confrontational, unscripted energy. He is a senior member of the House Oversight Committee, where his interrogations of witnesses often go viral for their intensity and cryptic phrasing. He previously served on the Homeland Security Committee but withdrew in 2025 to focus on his Oversight role, citing ideological differences with the committee's direction.

His primary policy focus is the Energy Sector. His district is the "Saudi Arabia of Natural Gas," home to massive LNG export terminals that ship American energy to Europe and Asia. Higgins views these terminals as vital national security assets, successfully lobbying the Trump administration to approve projects like the Venture Global CP2 facility in Cameron Parish. For Higgins, energy independence is the ultimate form of national security.

District Context: Louisiana 3rd (U.S. Census Data) "Cajun Country": This district covers the southwest corner of Louisiana, known as Acadiana. It is the cultural home of the Cajun people, famous for French dialects, zydeco music, and world-class cuisine (crawfish, boudin, gumbo).

Population: ~776,000.

The "Energy Corridor": The district's economy is inextricably linked to Oil & Gas.

Port of Lake Charles: A top-ranking U.S. port for energy exports.

Cameron Parish: The site of mul...

Gwen Moore is a political pioneer: she is the first African American elected to Congress from the State of Wisconsin.

She represents Wisconsin’s 4th District, which encompasses the city of Milwaukee and its immediate suburbs (like Shorewood and West Milwaukee). It is the state's only "majority-minority" district and serves as the Democratic engine of Wisconsin politics.

A member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, Moore brings a lived experience that is rare in Washington: she was once a single mother on welfare earning just $500 a year. This background drives her intense focus on Social Security, the Child Tax Credit, and defending the social safety net.

Her legislative style is defined by her fierce advocacy for the poor. She famously protested for a $15 minimum wage (getting arrested in the process) and has been a leading voice on maternal health and reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (having survived domestic violence herself).

Moore is known for her fiery, often poetic floor speeches—she once went viral for calling a tax bill "lipstick on a pig" and reciting poetry to criticize GOP budget cuts.

"She went from the welfare rolls to the Ways and Means Committee. Gwen Moore doesn't just represent Milwaukee; she represents every American who has ever had to decide between paying rent or buying groceries."

Gwen Moore: The Voice of the Voiceless

Representative Gwen Moore’s rise to power is one of the most compelling stories in the U.S. Congress. Born in Racine and raised in Milwaukee as the eighth of nine children, her early life was defined by struggle. As a young adult, she was a single mother on welfare, relying on government assistance to feed her children while she put herself through Marquette University. She credits the TRIO program (a federal student outreach program) with saving her life and career. This personal history means that when Republicans propose cuts to SNAP (food stamps) or housing assistance, Moore takes it personally—she knows exactly what those cuts mean for a family’s dinner table.

After working as a VISTA volunteer and helping to start a community credit union to fight redlining, Moore entered state politics. She served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and Senate, where she became a legislative heavyweight on women’s rights and criminal justice reform. In 2004, she made history by winning the seat for Wisconsin’s 4th District, becoming the first Black person to represent the state in Washington.

In the House, Moore secured a coveted spot on the Ways and Means Committee, the powerful body that writes the tax code. It is an unusual assignment for a representative from a high-poverty district, but Moore uses it to serve as a check on corporate tax breaks. She is a relentless advocate for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit, arguing that the tax code should be a tool for poverty alleviation, not just wealth accumulation. She also serves as a Whip for the Congressional Black Caucus, ensuring that the needs of urban communities are front-and-center in Democratic leadership meetings.

District Context: Wisconsin 4th (U.S. Census Data) The Milwaukee Core: This district is geographically small but densely populated, covering the city of Milwaukee and inner-ring suburbs like Cudahy, St. Francis, and South Milwaukee.

Population: ~715,000.

Demographics: A "Majority-Minority" district. It is roughly 38% Black, 37% White, and 20% Hispanic, making it one of the most diverse districts in the Midwest.

Economic Reality:

Poverty: The district faces significant economic challenges, with one of the highest child poverty rates in the nation.

Manufacturing Legacy: Milwaukee was once the "Machine Shop of the World." While heavy industry has declined, it remains a hub for companies like Harley-Davidson and Rockwell Automation.