Editing James Monroe (section)

===Governor of Virginia===
On a party-line vote, the Virginia legislature elected Monroe as [[Governor of Virginia]] in 1799. He would serve as governor until 1802.{{sfn|Cunningham|1996|p=7}} The constitution of Virginia endowed the governor with very few powers aside from commanding the militia when the Assembly called it into action, but Monroe used his stature to convince legislators to enhance state involvement in transportation and education and to increase training for the militia. Monroe also began to give [[State of the State address|State of the Commonwealth addresses]] to the legislature, in which he highlighted areas in which he believed the legislature should act. Monroe also led an effort to create the state's first [[penitentiary]], and imprisonment replaced other, often harsher, punishments. In 1800, Monroe called out the state militia to suppress [[Gabriel's Rebellion]], a [[slave rebellion]] originating on a plantation six miles from the capital of Richmond. Gabriel and 27 other enslaved people who participated were all hanged for treason.<ref name=":3">{{harvnb|Unger|2009|pp=138–141}}</ref> The executions sparked compassionate feelings among the people of Virginia, and Monroe worked with the [[Virginia General Assembly|legislature]] to secure a location where free and enslaved African Americans suspected of "conspiracy, insurgency, Treason, and rebellion" would be permanently banished outside the United States.<ref>{{Harvnb|Ammon|1971|pp=198–199}}</ref>

Monroe thought that foreign and Federalist elements had created the [[Quasi War]] of 1798–1800, and he strongly supported [[Thomas Jefferson]]'s candidacy for president in [[1800 United States presidential election|1800]]. Federalists were likewise suspicious of Monroe, some viewing him at best as a French dupe and at worst a traitor.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Arthur|last=Scherr|title=James Monroe on the Presidency and 'Foreign Influence;: from the Virginia Ratifying Convention (1788) to Jefferson's Election 1801|journal=Mid-America|year=2002|volume=84|issue=1–3|pages=145–206}}</ref> With the power to appoint election officials in Virginia, Monroe exercised his influence to help Jefferson win Virginia's [[Electoral College (United States)|presidential electors]].{{sfn|Cunningham|1996|pp=7–8}} He also considered using the Virginia militia to force the outcome in favor of Jefferson.<ref>{{harvnb|Ammon|1971|page=193}}.</ref> Jefferson won the 1800 election, and he appointed Madison as his Secretary of State. As a member of Jefferson's party and the leader of the largest state in the country, Monroe emerged as one of Jefferson's two most likely successors, alongside Madison.<ref>{{harvnb|Unger|2009|pp=144–146}}</ref>