Dilina+P.++Madison

James Madison March 16, 1751 Port Conway, Virginia- June 28, 1836 Montpelier, Virginia Political Party: Democratic-Republican Terms: March 4, 1809- March 3, 1817 Vice President: George Clinton (First Term) Elbridge Gerry (Second Term)


 * Thematic Context **

Slavery in this time period was still occurring, though less frequent in the North than in the South. The Non-Intercourse Act indirectly affected slavery. The act was in response to the Embargo act that Thomas Jefferson put into effect. James Madison made the decision to enforce the Non-Intercourse Act. The Non-Intercourse act allowed the U.S to trade with every nation but Britain and France. This affected slavery because now the U.S could expand their slave trade to a wider market. The South depended on slave labor to work on their plantations and with the Embargo Act restraining the U.S from being able to trade; the South couldn’t get/receive any slaves. In result, the American economy dropped. When Madison enforced the Non-Intercourse act, the South could resume their slave trade with only a few restrictions.

After the Non-Intercourse Act, Macon’s Bill No.2 was passed. This repealed the Non-Intercourse Act because the U.S was willing to trade with which ever country would respect the neutrality of American ships. France agreed and the U.S continued to not trade with Britain. This further expanded slave trade.

James Madison, fourth president of the United States, didn’t do very much in his presidency other than deal with the War of 1812. Most of his decisions in his presidency revolved around the causes, the war itself, how to resolve the war, and the effects left by the war. James Madison also had to deal with the threat of War Hawks in the northwest wanting to take over Canada. Attempting to take the same view of neutrality as those before him, James Madison deserves a grade of an A.
 * Thesis **

Jefferson left the country in a mess for James Madison to clean up. With the failed Embargo act, Madison had to start enforcing the Non-Intercourse Act. Madison and his administration wanted to end the issues with Britain and France. They also wanted to prove a point and show that the two other nations were dependent on U.S. trade (which later was shown was proved wrong. His goal was to follow Washington’s precedent of remaining neutral but with Congress passing Macon’s Bill No.2 and the French complying with it, those ideas were shot and it was the beginning of war with Britain. Madison had to consider into all of it the internal issue with New England. With maritime rights at stake everyone thought that New England would agree to war so their men could begin to come home safely from sea. The War Hawks presence was what drove New Englanders to begin sending the British care packages. Madison now had an even bigger conflict on his hands. James Madison officially declared war on June 1, 1812. The ultimate goal was to stop the British from seizing American ships and to completely stop relying on the British completely.
 * Goals **

Madison was a shy man and also a weak voice. Congress overrode him multiple times. James Madison barely had any control where Congress was involved. The majority party in both the House and Senate was Democratic-Republican. This should have meant that Madison would get along with Congress. Instead he worked with a very fractious Congress. They went against many of Madison’s views and ideas. For example, Macon’s Bill No.2. Madison wanted to follow through with the Non-Intercourse act and teach both France and England a lesson. Congress redid everything and came up with Macon’s Bill No.2. The War Hawks of the west even had some voice in Congress. James Madison was the first president to use the pocket veto. Madison vetoed an act that added a Protestant Episcopal Church because it violated the First Amendment Establishment clause. He also vetoed another act that violated the Establishment Clause. Madison vetoed a total of 5 bills, one being the Bonus Bill for internal improvements (federal funds for canals and highways). Though it seemed that Madison vetoed everything Congress sent his way things did get done. Madison was successful in getting a charter for the Second Bank of the United States in 1816 ad that helped settle some debts of the War of 1812. They also passed the Tariff of 1816 to protect American manufacturing.
 * Madison and Congress **

James Madison and his administration made the decision of declaring war against the British. This resulted in the boost of nationalism in the United States. Before the war the threat of War Hawks in the West and the embargo and non-importation issues tore the country apart internally. When the war ended the country pulled together as one. Pride for America was everywhere, artists painted the landscapes, authors wrote about America, and manufacturing rose. James Madison deserves an A just for this reason. Nationalism was seen in manufacturing by the Tariff of 1816 that protected imports. Manufacturing flourished with the renewed nationalism that backed it.
 * Positive Decision **

Madison and his administration did have their flaws. Enforcing the Non-Intercourse Act was a gamble and they barely got out. The U.S wanted to prove to France and England that they depended on American trading. The plan backfired and the two great nations could live without the U.S trade. The Non-Intercourse Act was to stop the impressments of American ship but the act had zero effect. This lead to Macon’s Bill No.2 which eventually lead to The War of 1812.
 * Negative Decision **

Decision that influenced future administrations
James Madison decision of chartering the Second Bank of the U.S set a precedent for future administrations. They failed to re-authorize the first bank making it hard for the U.S to regulate commerce and to finance the war with Britain. As a Democratic-Republican he believed that there shouldn’t be a national bank and it took a long time for them to reinstate a federal bank again. When they did learn that in the long run it was beneficial for the U.S. to have a federal bank Madison signed the bill to charter another one. This will show future administrations that even though it goes against the beliefs of their party, it is possible for some balance to occur and that it will help their country.

Conclusion
James Madison deserved a grade of A for his presidency. He brought an end to the War of 1812 and boosted the pride of the people. This as a result opened up a stronger banking system and the addition of the Second Bank of the United States. His main decision making revolved around the War of 1812. The United States was better off with Madison’s rule. He left an easy entrance for his successor James Monroe and brought along a short time of peace for the U.S. All in all James Madison left the United States in a good place and should get an A.

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