Katie+T.+-+JM+-+FA09

Elbridge Gerry served 1813-1814 (died in office)
 * President:** James Madison (March 16, 1751 - June 28, 1836)
 * Political Party:** Democratic**-**Republican
 * Presidential Term(s):** 1809-1812 and 1813-1817
 * Vice President:** George Clinton served 1805-1812 (died in office)

James Madison was the fourth President of the United States. He was left with the dreadful, terribly handled foreign policies of Thomas Jefferson. He did his best at fixing them and pulled developing America through the War of 1812 for which he recieves the grade of a B on his presidency.

As president, James Madison had the goal of preventing war with Britain and France. He attempted to make peace with them through Macon's Bill No. 2. This bill reopened trade with Britain and France that Jefferson had banned during his presidency. It also gave Madison power to restore the embargo against the nonrepealing nation if that nation failed to lift its restrictions on American trade within three months of the other nation repealing its restrictions. French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte did not want America to trade with Britain so he tried to get America to place its embargo on Britain by saying that they would possibly lift their trade restrictions if Britain lifted theirs. Madison accepted this as evidence of repeal because he thought Britain would follow within the three months allotted. However, Britain was stubborn so Madison was forced to place the embargo back on Britain though he did not want to. Replacing the embargo began the War of 1812. Madison was unsuccessful in his presidency goal.

During Madison's terms in office, the majority party in Congress was Democratic-Reupublican. His relationship with congress was fair. Early in his presidency, Macon's Bil No. 2 was passed. Even though Madison's own party dominated Congress, he still had some difficulty with Congress. The "War Hawks" of his party were one of the main causes of the War of 1812. They wanted war stories of their own and they wanted the Indian threat removed so they could expand further west. Therefore, they pushed Madison into a war that he did not want to enter. After the War of 1812, the Tariff of 1816 was passed as the first American tariff of protection. It raised import prices by twenty to twenty-five percent to help protect American industries when Britain tried to empty their warehouses on America by lowering their prices below cost. In 1817, Madison vetoed the Bonus Bill. It was a bill funding the construction of roads and canals in the states. He said that the Constitution did not give Congress the power to do this money handout.

The most positive outcome of Madison's presidency was the War of 1812 while the most negative outcome was Macon's Bill No. 2. Even though Madison's goal was to stay out of war, the War of 1812 was a huge success in the end. It closed in a draw so America did not lose any land to Britain. New respect was recieved by other countries for America's fighting against grievous wrongs. Manufacturing flourished because of the embargoes and war. The greatest effect of the war was a new sense of nationalism. The people became one after the War of 1812 and took pride in their country through literature, art, finance, manufacturing, and the construction of a new national capitol. It is ironic that the ultimate cause of the war, Macon's Bill No. 2, was Madison's most negative outcome. It is labeled as such because Madison never meant to go to war with Britain. The Bill was actually supposed to create peace with Britain, not war.

Madison's difficult decission to declare war on Britain in 1812 influenced future lives of Americans.The War of 1812 is also known as the Second War for American Independence. It restated to Britain that America is an independent country. That America will not be bullied or taken over. Britain had been trying to take control of America again by not allowing America to trade with France and by forcing American sailors to enlist in their army. Britain thought they could push America around without opposition. The War of 1812 showed Britain that America was not just going to sit around while being harrased.

In closing, America was better off at the end of Madison's terms in office. He left the country in the Era of Good Feelings. This was quite a contrast from when he entered office. He managed to get America through the War of 1812 and emerge as one people. If Madison had been left a happier nation without disasterous Foreign Affairs, he could have done much more for it. Instead, he had to fix Thomas Jefferson's mistakes. He miserably failed in his goal of peace, therefore, James Madison recives a B for his presidency.

Bibliography:

"American President: James Madison: Foreign Affairs." //Miller Center of Public Affairs//. University of Virginia. Web. 24 Sept. 2009. [|.

DeGregorio, William A. __The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents__. Fort Lee, N.J: Barricade Books, 2005.

Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey. __The American Pageant__. 12th ed. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002.

"A Second War of Independence." //Digital History//. Web. 24 Sept. 2009. <[]>.

"Veto of Federal Public Works Bill." //Constitution Society Home Page//. Web. 24 Sept. 2009. <[]>.