Madisons Presidency

1
Madisons Presidency

• Background (Jefferson agreed w/ Washington, 2
  terms) (he supported close friend, Sec.
  of State/Madison)
• The Election of 1808 (brilliant
  thinker/statesman, Constitution) (weak speaker,
  temperamental, stubborn, not a Jefferson)
  (Federalists gained seats/Congress, Embargo)
• Commercial Warfare (terms dominated/European
  problems) (used diplomacy/economic pressure)
  (took U.S. to war)
• Nonintercourse Act, 1809 (Embargo repealed)
  (end economic hardship maintain
  U.S. neutrality) (trade w/ all
  nations except Britain/France)
• Macons Bill No. 2 (attempt to restore trade
  w/G.B. France) (whoever agrees to respect U.S.
  1st, wont trade with other one)
• Napoleons Deception (France agrees, embargo
  placed on G.B.) (Napoleon continued seizing U.S.
  merchant ships)

2
The War of 1812

• Causes of the War (neither wanted war) (2 main
  reasons for war)
• British violation of U.S. neutrality rights
• Problems w/ British in western frontier (had
  never left U.S. soil)
• Free Seas Trade (U.S./trading nation, needs
  trade for survival) (England/France at war, each
  wont respect U.S. neutrality rights) (Americans
  sympathize more w/ France, Republic/Revolution)
  (British more blatant about impressment, seen
  more as an enemy)
• Frontier Pressures (western Americans want
  Canada/Florida) (British Indian/Spanish allies
  in the way) (Indians defend lands) (Shawnee
  brothers, Tecumseh/warrior Prophet/religious
  leader) (want to unite all tribes east of Miss.
  River) (Whites want action) (Governor/General
  William Henry Harrison responds)
• War Hawks (new young aggressive senators from
  frontier states) (Clay Calhoun) (eagerness for
  war) (honor, Canada, Indians)
• Declaration of War (British delays political
  pressure led to war) (ironically, British met
  demands, end naval blockade)

3
A Divided Nation

• Background (Congress/Americans not united in
  support/War)
• Election of 1812 (Republican strength in south
  west) (overcame Federalist/antiwar Republican
  opposition in north)
• Opposition to War (Mr. Madisons War)
• New England Merchants (Embargo had hurt them)
  (profits hurt when War began) (impressment,
  inconvenient) (more loyal to Protestant English
  than Catholic French)
• Federalists (seen more as a matter of principle)
  (opposed idea of taking Canada
  or Florida) (Republican scheme
  to increase voting strength)
• Quids (Old classic Republicans)
  (violated Republican commitment
  to limited federal power)

4
Military Defeats Naval Victories

• Background (Britain had an overwhelming naval
  power) (hoped for)
• Napoleon continued success in Europe
• A U.S. land campaign against Canada
• Invasion of Canada (poorly equipped army)
  (disastrous) (burned govt. buildings in Toronto)
  (encouraged retaliation)
• Naval Battles (more successful than army) (Old
  Ironsides) (American privateers, motivated by
  patriotism profit) (British forced to abandon
  idea of invading New England/NY)
• Chesapeake Campaign (British, burn govt.
  buildings) (Baltimore/Fr. McHenry) (F.S. Key,
  Star Spangled Banner)
• Southern Campaign (Jackson, Battle of Horseshoe
  Bend) (end Creeks alliance, open lands) (Battle
  of New Orleans) (War had ended 2 weeks earlier)

5
The Treaty of Ghent

• British tired of Napoleonic Wars (Madison, we
  cant win) (American/British diplomats meet at
  Ghent, Belgium)
• A halt to fighting
• Return all conquered territory to prewar claimant
• Recognition of prewar boundary between Canada
  U.S. (nothing done about grievances that led to
  war) (war ended in stalemate
  with no gain to either side)
• Hartford Convention (radical Federalists met in
  Conn.) (Constitution amended or secede from
  Union) (rejected) (heard news of Ghent/New
  Orleans, forget what we said) (branded as
  traitors/unpatriotic) (demise of Federalist Party)

6

• Wars Legacy
• Survived 2 wars w/ Britain (gain respect of other
  nations)
• U.S. accepts Canada as neighbor (part of British
  Empire)
• Federalist Party declined (even in New England)
• Talk of nullification/secession (used later by
  South)
• Abandoned by British allies, Native Americans
  forced to give up large areas of land to white
  settlement
• As European goods became unavailable (naval
  blockades), more U.S. factories were built
  (industrial self-sufficiency)
• War heroes (Jackson Harrison) later become
  presidents
• Strong feeling towards American nationalism
  (future of U.S. lay in our
  west, stay away from Europe)