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__James Madison Jr.__ (March 16, 1751 - June 28, 1836) Democratic-Republican Party Terms of Office: (1809 -1812) (1813 -1817) Vice Presidents: George Clinton (First Term) and Elbridge Gerry (Second Term)

James Madison deserves an A- for his two terms of presidency. When Madison became President America was not in very good shape. Madison had to overcome the difficulties such as impressment and sectionalism. James Madison did good things while he was President such as the War of 1812 but he also did bad things, such as Macon's Bill No. 2. That is why he deserves A- and not an A+.

When James Madison became president America was definitely not in the best shape. Many conflicts were occurring. One of the largest problems was British impressment of American sailors. The British were pulling Americans right off their ships and forcing them to fight in the British navy. Many of these people died while in battle. Also the nation was extremely upset about the Embargo Act. If they can't trade with other countries then they can't make money. Trade needed to be restored. Also conflicts were breaking out between the Native Americans and the western settlers who wanted to move farther west. Another issue was the sectionalism that was occuring throughout the nation. James Madison's goal was to eliminate these problems and he handled the situation as well as he could, by sending the nation in to war. The War of 1812 stopped British impressment, reopened trade, expanded the western territory and created a sense of nationalism throughout the country.

James Madison had a fairly good relationship with Congress. Congress backed Madison when he replaced the Non-Intercourse Act with Macon's Bill No.2. Unfortunately, Macon's Bill No. 2 was unsuccessful. However Congress also supported Madison as he launched the country into the very successful War of 1812. Together they established the second Bank of the United States, which remained in operation until President Jackson vetoed renewal of it's charter. Madison's last act as president was to vetoe a bill that authorized federal funds for the construction of highways and canals because he thought it was unconstitutional. However, he still supported the Congress' ideas and suggested that they make an amendment to the Constitution.

The most positive action of Madison's administration was the War of 1812. The war was caused because of British impressment on Americans, sectionalism, conflicts between the western settlers, and agricultural greed. The British were taking Americans off of their ships and forcing them to fight in the British navy, Americans felt that they needed to establish their maritime rights. Also, there was a lot of agricultural greed from the southern and western settlers. They wanted to march into Canada in order to gain more land. Also agricultural greed was causing the western settlers and their Native American neighbors to fight. In result of all of these things Madison felt that war was the only solution. The end of the War of 1812 marked the end of U.S. economic dependency on Britain. It also created more industry in America and a sense of nationalism. Other countries had a new found respect for the young nation. America had now defeated the most powerful force in the world, Britain, twice.

The most negative action of Madison's administration was Macon's Bill No. 2. At the time that Madison became president the country was in a bit of a predicament. Britain has passed the Orders in Council which closed all French ports to foriegn shipping unless the ship stopped at a British port first. France ordered the seizures of all merchant ships that entered British ports. America could not trade with France without being attacked by Britain and they could not trade with Britain without being attacked by France. The former president, Thomas Jefferson had attempted to solve this issue by passing the Embargo Acts. These acts stated that America could not trade with anyone in the world. When Madison became president the country was in an uproar and the economy was suffering. Then Madison replaced the Non-Intercourse Act of 1809, which reopened trade with all the countries of the world except Britain or France with Macon's Bill No. 2. Macon's Bill No. 2 stated that if either Britain of France repealed its commercial restrictions than America would restore its embargo act against the other nation. This was a gamle on Madison's part as it could have either a good or bad result. Unfortunately for Madison it was the latter. Madison's gamble failed and he was forced to resume the embargo against Britain. This marked the end of American neutrality in the ongoing conflicts between France and Britain.

James Madison made a very significant impact on the future when he decided to put the country into the War of 1812. Although the war did not start well for the Americans, when General Hull surrendered at Detroit without even a single shot being fired, America slowly became victorious when Captain Oliver Hazard Perry took control of Lake Erie, and Tecumseh (the Indian leader) was killed at the Battle of Thames. The last battle was at Fort McHenry where Francis Scott Key wrote our national anthem "The Star Spangled Banner". The war resulted in the end of United States economic dependence on Britain and an expanding American industry. Results that you can still see today.

In conclusion, Madison was a good President. He took a country that was in terrble shape and turned it around. He did this through the War of 1812. Although he did make some mistakes such as Macon's Bill No. 2 The country was better off at the end of his presidential terms than at the beginning. "Never was a country left in a more flourishing situation that the United States at the end of his administration." A former Treasury secretary, Albert Gallatin (1817), agrees. Overall Madison deserved the grade of an A-.

**__Bibliography:__** Degregorio, W. A. (2009). James Madison. //The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents, Seventh Edition (Complete Book of Us Presidents)// (7 ed., pp. 55 - 70 ). Fort Lee: Barricade Books.

Kennedy, D. M., Cohen, L., & Bailey, T. A. (2002). //The American Pageant: A History of the Republic: Vol 1, To 1877// (12th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.