James Madison and the War of 1812

James Madison and the War of 1812

In this discussion you will consider the position of James Madison in regards to the War of 1812. From his time as Secretary of State in the Jefferson Adminstration, Madison had been dealing with the difficult diplomatic task of avoiding war with Great Britain. Once he became president, he remained personally opposed to war, but events and Congress forced his hand.

Suggested Readings:

• Refer to section 11.3 -"MADISON" of your textbook for this discussion.

Focus Questions:

Use the following questions to guide your thinking and to prepare for the class discussion.

1. Why did Madison want to avoid a war when Britain continually interferred with American shipping?
2. What was the impact of the war on the American people, particular those in New England?
3. The war is normally viewed as an American victory - was it really? Why or why not?

Directions:

After making your initial post you should respond to at least two of your classmate’s posts. Please remember to proofread your posts before you submit them as well as to cite all of the sources when quoting materials - even if its from your textbook.

Consult the Course Calendar for HIST 2111 for the appropriate due dates for these tasks.