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James Walker Madison Jr.

Terms: 1809-1813, 1813-1817

Vice President: George Clinton(1809-1812) Eldridge Gerry (1813-1814)

Born/Died: March 16, 1751 / June 28, 1836

Political Party: Democratic-Republican

James Madison was President during a trying time in America's history, and he certainly handled the situations he was delt with poise and integredy. However Madison's admisitration did not do anything which stands out as deserving recognition. For this reason I am giving him an overall grade of a B-. He did his best avioding war with Britian enforcing several trade embargo's which he tought would help America and ended up leading his country to victory in war; which makes him better than some, but other than that conflict he had a very average Presidency.

Madison had many idealistic goals coming into his Preidency, icluding staying on neutral terms with Britian and France during their quickly escalating conflict, rebuilding the national bank and making it a more bi-parisan apporved entity and improving the overall wellfare of the American economy. Madison succeeded at one of these goals, re-enstating the national bank in 1816, which was admittedly a great acheivment that emensly helped America later in its history. However Madison did put into effect trade embargo's which hurt American foreign affairs and ultimately pushed America and Britian to war. The War of 1812 not only put America up against the greatest Naval power in the world but also it's neighbor to the north. This national stress did nothing but hurt the economy hitting especially hard in the port based economies in New England. Tension's rose to a point where seccesion was openly talked of. However many key lands were gained in the process of the war.

President Madison had a good relationship with congress due to the predominence of his party, Democratic Republican, thoughout his Presidency. However when the national bank was disbanded and Congress attempted to push through several replacment systems, Madison vetoed all of them because he deemed them unconstitutional; being the Father of the Constitution. He did so in order to make internal improvments which finally met his standerd in 1816. Congress also helped Madison pass teh Non-Intercource Act and Macon's Bill No. 2 which put on and lifted trade embargo's on both France and England which did nothing but escelate tension. But a show of Congresses loyalty to their fellow party member shone through when President Madison requested going to war in 1812 which was answered and approved in a mere two weeks.

President Madison's approval and passing of the 2nd National Bank was, in my opinion, the most crucial action of his Presidency. Also Madison's insistance of honoring the Constitution in the formation of the bank helped set an example for many years to come. The Bank helped stimulate the American Industrial Revolution which made America the developed technological country it is today. If this was never passed then the American financial system would have fallen back into pre-Hamilttonian ways which would have degressed the country decades of progress.

In conclusion James Madison was given a very big responsibility in a very tough time in this country's history. He did the best he could and did not hurt or necessarilly improve the country in any major way. Because he did overall more good than bad I am giving him a B-. Slightly above average but by a slim margin. James Madison, being a very important man during the Revolution and Pre-Constitution America, was one of those President's who simply fade into the backround.

Bibliography

 //American President: An online Resource. //J.C.A. Stagg. []

DeGregorio, William, and Sandra Lee Stuart. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. Fort Lee, NJ:Barricade Books, 2009.

Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey. The American Pageant. 12th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002. Print.