The Presidency of James Madison NOTES

OBJECTIVE(S): Describe how American foreign policy differed during Madison’s presidency, compared to those before him Explain the procedure for the United States declaring war Identify the causes and effects of the War of 1812

I. James Madison, fellow Democratic- Republican and Thomas Jefferson’s right hand man, had served as Jefferson’s Secretary of State and later Vice-President and, upon Jefferson’s decision to step away from the presidency after two terms—following Washington’s example—Madison ran for president.

II. Madison had one major event tarnish his term in office: the War of 1812, pitting the Americans against the British.

II. America fought the War of 1812 against the British. A. The conflict was caused by the on-going Napoleonic Wars between Britain and France.

B. To strengthen their forces, the British Navy was seizing American merchant ships and impressing—forcing them to join—American sailors into the British navy.

C. The British refused to stop despite Madison’s objections; he felt compelled to ask Congress to declare war on Britain in 1812.

D. The British defeated the Americans in almost every engagement in the war. American cities of Detroit and Washington, D.C. were invaded and torched.

E. The British Navy blockaded American ports, which stopped trade and severely hurt the American economy.

F. Madison sent representatives to sue—or ask—for peace. The Treaty of Ghent was signed in 1815 and the war was over, except for the Battle of New Orleans.

G. But before news of the peace agreement was widely known, the Battle of New Orleans took place.

1. The British, unaware of the ending of hostilities, invaded the American port of New Orleans (acquired in the Louisiana Purchase).

2. Led by General Andrew Jackson, the Americans fought back the British invasion, making “Old Hickory” a national hero.

H. The War of 1812 caused a rise in nationalism that lessened the tensions between the Federalists and Democratic- Republicans.

1. The war inspired Francis Scott Key to write the national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner.”

2. After the war, the “Era of Good Feelings” began, a period of domestic peace and prosperity for the United States.