Series: Madison, Party Politics and the War of 1812

It was known as Mr. Madison's War. Throughout his career, James Madison was appreciated for his deliberative character, his leading role in state and national legislatures, and his reasoned opinions on such issues as commerce and constitutions. But no one looked to the guarded, if good-humored, fourth president for wartime leadership. Nancy Isenberg and Andrew Burstein of Louisiana State University explore James Madison's legacy and influence on the War of 1812.

• Article 1: Defining a national system: Madison, party politics and the road to war

  

  It was known as Mr. Madison’s War. Throughout his career James Madison was appreciated for his deliberative character, his leading role in state and national legislatures, and his reasoned opinions on such issues as commerce and constitutions. But no one looked to the guarded, if good-humored, fourth president for wartime leadership. Read more

• Friendship Hill National Historic Site

  Article 2: A tale of two parties: Partisanship as "Seditious Opposition"

  

  In the march to war, the Republican administration worried about political resistance in Federalist New England. Madison saw “intrigue” and “seditious opposition” in those who “clogged the wheels of war.” He could not rely on Federalist-dominated states to provide able-bodied men for military service. Read more

• Article 3: The price of sovereignty: Debating the costs of defending American honor

  

  On June 1, 1812, Madison came forward with a definitive list of unredressed grievances against Great Britain. These included impressment of US seamen on the Atlantic (forcing sailors to serve aboard British warships), the despised Orders in Council, and incitement of Indians against frontier positions. The House Foreign Affairs Committee met and agreed that London’s hypocrisies could no longer be tolerated. Read more

• The White House and President's Park

  Article 4: Fit for war? Guiding the nation through political and military battles

  

  As Madison began his second term in the spring of 1813, Secretary Gallatin warned him: “We hardly have enough money to last till the end of the month.” Read more