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James Madison Born March 16,1751 Died June 28, 1836 Term: 1809-1817 (2 terms) Vice Presidents: George Clinton (1st term) Elbridge Gerry (2nd term) Political Party: Democratic-Republican Rating: B-

__Theme: Slavery__ When it came to slavery, James Madison was some what of a hypocrite because his actions didn't show what his position was towards the issue. James Madison was another president who had slaves, but did not approve of slavery and he considered slavery a great evil while also declaring that slaves were property. During his lifetime, this president also supported the American Colonization Society, even became president for a term. The American Colonization Society was a group established in 1816 (during James Madison's presidency). The main objective of this group was to send Africans back to Africa. The difference of this group was that on one side, members wanted to give free Africans the choice to move back to Africa, and the other wanted to rid America of freed Africans. James Madison's views of slave freedom was that, "...they are permanently removed beyond the region occupied by, or allotted to a white population."

__James Madison__ In his first inaugural address, Madison gives a list of his goals for the United States to accomplish while he is president. One of these goals included maintaining neutrality with other nations that are at war. They must keep their neutral obligations and not favor one side and they must stay peaceful and friendly with the other nations. Other goals that Madison had for the country was to promote the spirit of independence, support the Constitution, and respect the authorities given to the states. These goals were declared because they are connected when thinking about keeping the country unified. In his second inaugural address, Madison didn't specify new goals that he wanted to meet, and mostly talking about the war that was fought and how America can now be identified as a permanent independent nation. This speech was mostly talking of the events with the British and what the American victory means for the future.

Congress at the time of Madison's presidency was dealing with foreign issues. There was tension that was occurring between France and Britain. Both of these countries have a long history of being enemies with one another, and nothing seems to have changed. British ships were also affecting American trade because they were seizing American ships and stopping trade. A long chain of events occurred that eventually lead to Macon's Bill No.2. This bill was a gamble that reopened American trade. The cost was that British had to lift their Orders of Council and reopen neutral trade. The British didn't and Madison was forced to reestablish the Embargo Act against Britain. Because of economic pressures, America declared war on Britain in 1812, which is now known as the War of 1812. James Madison was the first president to ask Congress to declare war. During this war, British soldiers burned down the capital and the British naval bombardment in Fort McHenry is what inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Start Spangled Banner. The impact that the war had on America was that it set their place in the international community. In Madison's second term, things went better than his first. There was economic growth and there was westward expansion. During his term, he signed a law that would authorize a new bank and call for higher tariffs for American manufacturers' protection. He also vetoed the Bonus Bill. This bill, if passed, would use federal funds to assist in building road and canal systems throughout. Madison vetoed this bill because he thought that the states were responsible for the funding of the creation of their own roads and canals. Most of James Madison's presidency was dealing with the War of 1812 and the aftermath. His relationship with congress was asking them to declare war and afterwards, passing and vetoing laws that were presented.

The action that had a positive outcome to Madison's presidency was the War of 1812. After this war, not only did we win it, but it solidified America's independence again from Britain. The war also showed that the country needed a strong and prepared army. It also started up manufacturing, which improved our economy. Trade was bad at the time of the war, so America had to fend for itself when it came to supplies. This, in the end, was beneficial to the country. An action that had a negative outcome was Macon's Bill No. 2. This Bill had a negative outcome because it lead to the reestablishment of the Embargo Act against Britain alone. This is bad because the Embargo Act (first established by Jefferson) forbade all goods to be exported from the US. The first time this act was used, it lead to unemployment and the economy wasn't strong. The second time, this act wasn't a good idea because it meant the end of American neutrality and eventually lead to the War of 1812.

A decision that influenced the future in some way Macon's Bill. This bill was what eventually lead to the War of 1812. The outcome of this war was that America re-identified itself as an independent nation because it defeated Britain again. It was also known as the second revolution. It solidified the country's place in the international community and lead to a stronger military force, which is what the country has now. Even though this bill was an act of gambling that lost, it lead to some big events that changed America.

In conclusion, I would rate Madison's presidency as a B- because he did make some good decisions that had a good influence on the future and the country, but there were also some negative things as well. The big issue was the War of 1812. The war did have some positive outcomes in the end, but during the war, Madison's goal of staying a neutral country wasn't met and there was some economic difficulties. I believe that this country was better off in some way because without the declaration of war with Britain, America wouldn't have reaffirmed itself as an independent nation from britain again.

WORKS CITED


 * 1803, January, an historic chain of events set into motion a tidal wave of change—one that would revolutionize the course of U.S. history. While Jefferson's political, private reasons were not always in sync, but privately he, and Madison firmly believed in western expansion for an ideal agrarian society.. "Biography | James Madison - James Madison's Montpelier... Restore Montpelier, Rediscover Madison." //James Madison's Montpelier - Restore Montpelier, Rediscover Madison//. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2011. 

"The American Colonization Society." //American Colonization Society//. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2011. .
 * James Madison: "Inaugural Address," March 4, 1813. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, //The American Presidency Project//. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=25806.

James Madison:"Inaugural Address," March 4, 1809.Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley,//The American Presidency Project//. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=25805. || Kennedy, David, Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas Bailey.//The American Pageant//. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002. Print.

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