Madison and the War of 1812

Libertyville High School

James Madison

• Virginian planter• Follower of Jefferson• Wrote some of the

Federalist Papers• “Father of

Constitution”• Married Dolly (17 yrs

younger), 1794 – she created the role of First Lady Dolly Madison

Madison, as President

“Father of Constitution” & Bill of Rights

• Wrote Virginia Plan• Came up with three

branch government form• Wrote Bill of Rights

– Wanted it part of Constitution, not separate

– Wanted it to apply to states, too (14th , 15th Amendments)

Madison’s notes from Constitutional convention

From F to D-R• Madison very much

opposed to European style government (strong Exec, army)

• Leader of opposition against Hamilton’s Bank (strict interp)

• Worked w/ Jefferson to organize D-R Party

First US Bank, Philadelphia

President Madison & the Bank• Elected in 1808• Allowed Bank of US

to expire in 1811 (20 years after founding)

• During War of 1812, quickly realized how hard it was to fight war without money

• 1815 – asked Congress for new bank

$1 gold coin, minted 2007

Madison: Sliding to War

• Madison tried to avoid war w/ Britain by repealing Non-Intercourse Acts

• British, French continued to harass US shipping

• Madison’s conflicts with “war hawks” Political cartoon on repeal

“Warhawks”• Younger D-Rs from

Western, Southern states (KY, TN, OH & NW Territories)

• Too young to fight in Rev. War

• Desired war against Britain (insults to national pride, etc)

• Most important WHs: Speaker of House Clay, John Calhoun

Henry Clay

John C. Calhoun

War of 1812• Madison built public

support for war– But not enough

money spent preparing for war (army, navy, forts, militias)

• US declared war on June 12, 1812– “Mr. Madison’s War”– “Second War of

Independence”

War of 1812

• Causes of War– Impressment of

Americans– American

Resentment Against British

– British Support of Native Americans Against American Frontier

– American Desire for Canada, Florida

Election of 1812

• Madison challenged by a D-R, DeWitt Clinton, who switched parties, over the War of 1812

• Federalists supported Clinton– Clinton ran as anti-war in

NE, pro-war in South, West

– Closer election than in 1808

Madison: 128 ECVClinton: 89 ECV

Popular Vote:Madison: 50.4%Clinton: 47.6%

War of 1812: Federalist Opposition

• Federalists opposed to war, esp. in New England– Engaged in smuggling w/

Canada– Refused to support troops– Hartford Convention, Dec.

1814• Minority power to nullify

federal laws when deemed to be unconstitutional

• Secession of New England seriously debated

• End of war = end of Federalist Party

Treaty of Ghent, 1815• Exchanged POWs• Established commissions

to work on disputed issues– Trade– Fishing

• Rush-Bagot Agreement (1818)

• Treaty Line of 1818• All lands captured by

British, US returned to previous owners

• Peace! Signing of the Treaty of Ghent

War of 1812: Fun Facts

• Commodore Oliver Perry– Battle of Lake Erie, 1813

(saved Ohio Valley, opened Canada to invasion)

– “We have met the enemy…”

• Francis Scott Key & the Star Spangled Banner– Prisoner exchange late in

war

– British bombardment of Fort McHenry, outside Baltimore

Key, from the British ship

War of 1812: Fun Facts

• Battle of New Orleans (Jan, 1815)– News travels slowly…– Andrew Jackson, US

Commander– Battle: British are mauled– Jackson becomes

national hero

1815: Turning Point in US History

• Upsurge in nationalism

• Upsurge in industrialization

• Upsurge in western settlement

• National attention focused on internal development