AP US: James Madison as President (1809-1817)

James Madison as President

  • Madison becomes President with a brilliant record, from the Revolution, the Constitution, etc.
    • he wrote the Federalist Papers, served in Congress, wrote the Bill of Rights
    • leader of the Democrat-Republican party
    • served as Jefferson's Secretary of State and close advisor
  • however, his time had passed; he's not considered an "active" leader

Economy

  • steps into office in a country plagued with economic issues
  • Non-Intercourse Act
    • failed
    • smuggling begins again - trade with Britain and France
    • peaceful coersion is failing
  • Macon's Bill No. 2 (1810)
    • repeals the Non-Intercourse Act
    • reopens trade with both Britain and France
    • provides that if either nation agrees to no longer violate US neutrality, the US will return to non-intercourse against the other
    • Napoleon agrees to rescind the Milan decrees
      • so, the US stops trade with Britain
      • however, Napoleon is not truly sincere - he's taking advantage of the situation to gain time
    • Madison should have realise that the law was poorly written, and should have recognised Napoleon's deceit
    • relations with Britain decline
      • Britain didn't want a war with France and the US
      • British market was suffering from lack of US trade
      • in June of 1812, the British government repeals restrictions on trade with the US
      • by this time, it's too late - the US has already declared war

The War of 1812

  • considered to be a great victory for the US; however, they don't really gain anything from the treaty, which merely restores the pre-war conditions
  • Causes
    • US is fed up with continual violations of neutral rights, especially by Britain
      • all sections of the country are affected and upset
      • an insult to national honour
      • losses of sailors, goods, etc.
    • Economy
      • those in the South and the West blame Britain for causing a depression by closing trade
      • some blame France, as well, but most of the hatred is reserved for Britain
    • convinced that the British are behind efforts of Indian leaders to raid frontier areas
      • think the British supply weapons
      • 1811 - Gen. William Harrison
        • wins a victory at Tippecanoe, Indiana, crushing Tecumseh's dreams of an Indian Confederation
        • reports that the Indians have a store of British armaments
    • West and South leaders, especially those on the frontier, want the US to expand
      • want Florida and Canada
      • demand an invasion of Canada
      • want an end to the Indian menace by removing their supporters in Canada
      • gain control of the fur trade
      • War Hawks: young Republicans who want war with Britain, these are young leaders who will "come of age" and become leaders of the nation in future years
      • leads into idea of Manifest Destiny
  • Preparation
    • before going to war, a nation needs support, supplies, and allies
    • but the US isn't prepared for war
    • small army
    • state militias only fight in their own state
    • need money - but the National Bank's 20-year charter has run out
    • the Embargo Act had destroyed the economy, so there's very little money available
  • America's worst-fought major war
    • the US only manages to win through fortunate circumstances - Britain is more focussed on France, and doesn't commit many resources to the US
    • there is no decisive victory for either side
    • military stalemate
    • US navy had to be assisted by hundreds of privateers
  • Land campaigns against Canada
    • several attacks are launched against Canada in 1812, but the invasion fails
    • the British will capture Detroit
  • Battle of Lake Erie (1813)
    • US fleet under Oliver Hazard Perry defeats British fleet
    • "We have met the enemy, and they are ours" - Perry
    • gives the US control of the Great Lakes, causing the British to abandon Detroit
    • beginning of the end of the war
  • British raids on the East coast, 1813
    • the British burn towns as they advance
    • invade Washington, D.C. and burn it
    • stopped at Fort McHenry (Baltimore) - this defeat of the British inspired the "Star-Spangled Banner", by Francis Scott Key
  • Battle of Plattsburgh (1814)
    • British invade from Canada by Lake Champlain, but are defeated and pushed back to Canada
    • this battle settles the war
  • Treaty of Ghent (Dec. 1814)
    • ends the fighting
    • restores pre-war conditions
    • nothing addresses impressment or violation of neutral rights
    • provides for future settlements, with questions of boundaries and fishing to be decided by an arbitration committee
  • Battle of New Orleans (early 1815)
    • greatest US land victory of the war occurs after the peace treaty has been signed
    • Jackson's claim to fame
  • Results
    • causes weren't solved - impressment, etc. continue
    • gain foreign respect
      • show that this young, sparsely populated, country would defend itself
      • willing to go to war to stand up for its rights
      • no longer an insignificant weakling
    • ends US involvement in the affairs of Europe for about 100 years
      • isolation from the politics of Europe
      • allows growth of the nations, without war interfering
    • sense of nationalism
      • belief in America, and who we are
      • unity and purpose
      • have an American identity
      • confident in out own government, abilities, and future
      • other divisions are cast aside for a while - positive feeling about entire nation, not just parts of it
    • paves the way for a new surge of Western migration
      • begin to move West and develop land
      • fear of Indian menace is dismissed
      • Harrison defeats Indians in northwest
      • Jackson defeats Indians in southwest
    • stimulates American industry and a national sense of self-sufficiency
      • as war between Britain and France takes place and trade is cut off with Embargo Act, America is forced to develop its own industry
      • weren't getting supplies from Europe, so had to make it on their own
      • lack of foreign competition helps industry grow
      • less reliance of foreign nations
    • leads to total collapse of the Federalist Party
      • now there's only one party, the Democrat-Republicans
      • Federalists are so far off the public opinion that they destroy themselves
      • last candidate they run for President is Rufus King, 1816
      • strongly opposed to War of 1812
        • this shows in New England, their strongest support base - they trade with Britain during the war
        • Hartford Convention
          • put together Amendments that they wanted to add to the Constitution
          • for example, want to ban consecutive Presidents from the same state (fear that the "Virginia Dynasty" was becoming too strong)
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