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
- US is fed up with continual violations of neutral rights, especially by Britain
- 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)