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There will be more about Chief Justice Taney later in this course, in connection with  Civil War.

There will be more about Chief Justice Taney later in this course, in connection with  Civil War.

== The War of 1812 ==

== The War of 1812 and Madison's Presidency ==

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''.

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.

Madison was in over his head as a president.  Madison was a thinker, writer, and scholar, but not a commander-in-chief.  His skill was writing scholarly articles, not leading armies into battle.  England was the most powerful country in the world, and not someone to pick a fight with, regardless of what things might look like on paper.

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.  Then, more so than now, a politician can gain a great deal of support by calling for war.  The "War Hawks" did exactly that.

Meanwhile, England was also harassing American sailors and "impressing them," which means enlisting them as sailors for England against their will.  Adding insult to injury, England invaded D.C. itself and burned down the Capitol and the White House.  President Madison was befuddled and almost helpless.  His wife Dolly at least showed some initiative by saving the portrait of George Washington as they fled the White House.  The British sacked the entire city.

 

Meanwhile, England was also harassing American sailors and "impressing them," which means enlisting them as sailors for England against their will.  Adding insult to injury, England invaded Washington, D.C. itself and even burned down the Capitol and the White House.  President Madison was befuddled and almost helpless.  His wife Dolly at least showed some initiative by supposedly grabbing the portrait of George Washington off the wall, and saving it as they fled.  Historians say that the portrait was actually saved by White House staff.  Regardless, the British sacked the entire city, until a very unusual tornado and rainstorm suddenly reined down on the city, which is called the "Storm that saved Washington."  The British troops then left the city.

In 1814, in the harbor at Baltimore, a battle was fought at Fort McHenry, during which the British shelled the American fortress.  An amateur poet named Francis Scott Key was detained during the battle and put his idle time to good use.  He penned the ''Star-Spangled Banner'' in honor of how the American flag continued to fly throughout the bombardment.  The words were immediately set to music, and became immensely popular.  In 1931, over 100 years later, it became the official National Anthem.

In 1814, in the harbor at Baltimore, a battle was fought at Fort McHenry, during which the British shelled the American fortress.  An amateur poet named Francis Scott Key was detained during the battle and put his idle time to good use.  He penned the ''Star-Spangled Banner'' in honor of how the American flag continued to fly throughout the bombardment.  The words were immediately set to music, and became immensely popular.  In 1931, over 100 years later, it became the official National Anthem.

Despite thrashing the United States in battle, England did not want to continue fighting.  So on Christmas Eve, England agreed to end the war with the Treaty of Ghent, and the U.S. did not have to give back any land.  The Treaty, which was negotiated by the Czar of Russia (a country depicted as a bear in political cartoons), arranged for the long, open Canadian-U.S. border that remains to this day.  Sometimes the [[War of 1812]] is called the Second Revolutionary War because it permanently resolved disputes lingering from the Revolutionary War itself.  Madison is frequently blamed by historians for allowing the mostly unnecessary War of 1812 to happen in the first place.

Despite thrashing the United States in battle, England did not want to continue fighting.  So on Christmas Eve, England agreed to end the war with the Treaty of Ghent, and the U.S. did not have to give back any land.  The Treaty, which was negotiated by the Czar of Russia (a country depicted as a bear in political cartoons), arranged for the long, open Canadian-U.S. border that remains to this day.  Sometimes the [[War of 1812]] is called the Second Revolutionary War because it permanently resolved disputes lingering from the Revolutionary War itself.  But Madison is frequently blamed by historians for allowing the mostly unnecessary War of 1812 to happen in the first place.

But news traveled slowly in those days, and on Jan. 8, 1815, British troops (unaware that a peace treaty had been signed) assaulted General Andrew Jackson's troops down in New Orleans.  Jackson had hated the British ever since he was a teenager, when a British soldier ordered Jackson to shine the soldier's shoes in a complete humiliation to Jackson.  Jackson refused and the soldier took out his sword and smacked Jackson across his face, leaving a scar he bore for the rest of his life.  Jackson would never forget where that scar came from.

News traveled very slowly in those days, and for weeks many troops were unaware that a peace treaty had been signed.  On Jan. 8, 1815, British troops assaulted General Andrew Jackson's troops down in New Orleans.  Jackson had hated the British ever since he was a teenager, when a British soldier ordered Jackson to shine the soldier's shoes in a complete humiliation to Jackson.  Jackson refused and the soldier took out his sword and smacked Jackson across his face, leaving a scar he bore for the rest of his life.  Jackson would never forget where that scar came from.

Jackson had settled in Tennessee where there were many woodsmen and hunters.  The Americans in Tennessee and Kentucky had rifles and were very good with them.  They were expert marksmen.  People in Tennessee also volunteer for military service in huge percentages, giving it the nickname the "Volunteer State" that it still uses to this day.  Jackson called on these marksmen to help him in New Orleans against the British, and the residents of Tennessee and Kentucky answered his call.  They rallied to Jackson's United States Army.

Jackson had settled in Tennessee where there were many woodsmen and hunters.  The Americans in Tennessee and Kentucky had rifles and were proficient in using them.  They were expert marksmen.  People in Tennessee also volunteer for military service in huge percentages, giving it the nickname the "Volunteer State" that it still uses to this day.  Jackson called on these marksmen to help him in New Orleans against the British, and the residents of Tennessee and Kentucky answered his call.  They rallied to Jackson's United States Army.

Jackson led his group of marksmen down to New Orleans to settle his nation's score against the British, and perhaps to settle his personal grudge against them as well.  Great Britain was the mightiest nation in the world and her soldiers were confident they could charge and destroy the rag-tag American army.   

Jackson led his group of marksmen down to New Orleans to settle his nation's score against the British, and perhaps to settle his personal grudge against them as well.  Great Britain was the mightiest nation in the world and her soldiers were confident they could charge and destroy the rag-tag American army.   

The British soldiers began an all-out charge against the American troops led by Jackson, but the Americans were ready for them.  The British were no match for the marksmen from Tennessee and Kentucky, who used their own rifles to mow down and decimate the charging British in the Battle of New Orleans.  Jackson became an overnight hero to the entire country for destroying the British there.  This was the greatest military victory the United States achieved up to that time.

The British soldiers began an all-out charge against the American troops led by Jackson, but the Americans were ready for them.  The British were no match for the marksmen from Tennessee and Kentucky, who used their own rifles to mow down and decimate the charging British in the Battle of New Orleans.  Jackson became an overnight hero to the entire country for destroying the British there.  This was certainly the greatest military victory the United States had achieved up to that time, and one its greatest ever.

The battles with Indians also created a war hero.  William Henry Harrison had defeated the Indians at Tippecanoe Creek several years earlier, in November 1811.  Then Harrison destroyed Indian confederacy in Ohio.  But Jackson was a bigger hero for defeating the British.  Years later, first Jackson would become president based in his popularity as a war hero, and subsequently Harrison would also be elected president.

The battles with Indians also created a war hero.  William Henry Harrison had defeated the Indians at Tippecanoe Creek several years earlier, in November 1811.  Then Harrison destroyed Indian confederacy in Ohio.  But Jackson was a bigger hero for defeating the British.  Years later, first Jackson would become president based in his popularity as a war hero, and subsequently Harrison would also be elected president.

There was a surprise effect of the War of 1812 as well.  Near the end of the war there was an extraordinary meeting called the Hartford Convention, which Federalists convened in Hartford, Connecticut, in late 1814.  They drew up plans to oppose the war and perhaps even secede from the United States, out of friendship with England.  But around the same time the United States signed the peace treaty with England and the Federalists suddenly looked like traitors.  This embarrassment destroyed the Federalist Party.  They would never again be a factor in American politics.

There was a surprise effect of the War of 1812 as well.  Near the end of the war there was an extraordinary meeting called the Hartford Convention, which Federalists convened in Hartford, Connecticut, in late 1814.  They drew up plans to oppose the war and perhaps even secede from the United States, due to the friendship by the Federalist Party with England.  But around the same time the United States signed the peace treaty with England and the Federalists suddenly looked like traitors.  This embarrassment destroyed the Federalist Party, and it would never again be a factor in American politics.

Before leaving office, the Democratic-Republican James Madison vetoed the Bonus Bill in 1817, which would have required that a bonus made available by the Second Bank of the United States be spent on internal improvements.

Finally, before leaving office, the Democratic-Republican James Madison vetoed the Bonus Bill in 1817, which would have required that a bonus made available by the Second Bank of the United States be spent on internal improvements.

== The Conservative President:  James Monroe ==

== The Conservative President:  James Monroe ==