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== The War of 1812 ==

== The War of 1812 ==

James Madison was elected in 1808 to succeed Jefferson.  Madison was an intellectual "egghead", one of the few presidents who did not serve in war as others his age had.  Madison was in over his head as a president.  Madison was a thinker, not a commander-in-chief.  England was still the most powerful country in the world, and not someone to pick a fight with, regardless of what an intellectual might think.   

James Madison was elected in 1808 to succeed Jefferson.  Madison was an intellectual "egghead", one of the few presidents who did not serve in the Revolutionary War as others his age had, perhaps due to Madison's physical weakness and generally poor health.  Instead, Madison was someone who showed up many days early for the Constitutional Convention in 1787, and took voluminous notes of what happened.  Also, along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, in late 1787 and early 1788 Madison wrote many articles urging New York to ratify the U.S. Constitution, which are called the ''Federalist Papers''.

 

Madison was in over his head as a president.  Madison was a thinker, not a commander-in-chief.  England was still the most powerful country in the world, and not someone to pick a fight with, regardless of what an intellectual might think.   

England was still in Canada and some "War Hawks" in Congress (led by Henry Clay) accused it of inciting Indian attacks against the United States.  A Shawnee Indian named Tecumseh began to unite many of the tribes, and American settlers were terrified.  It was believed that the British were arming the Indians and encouraging them to attack.  In 1811, General William Henry Harrison (a future president) attacked Tecumseh's village.  Of course, this only heightened tension between the Indians and settlers.

England was still in Canada and some "War Hawks" in Congress (led by Henry Clay) accused it of inciting Indian attacks against the United States.  A Shawnee Indian named Tecumseh began to unite many of the tribes, and American settlers were terrified.  It was believed that the British were arming the Indians and encouraging them to attack.  In 1811, General William Henry Harrison (a future president) attacked Tecumseh's village.  Of course, this only heightened tension between the Indians and settlers.