Changes

Madison faced formidable obstacles--a divided cabinet, a factious party, a recalcitrant Congress, obstructionist governors, and amazingly incompetent generals, together with militia who refused to fight outside their states. Most serious was lack of unified popular support. There were serious threats of disunion from New England, which engaged in massive smuggling to Canada and refused to provide financial support or soldiers.<ref>Stagg, 1983.</ref> However [[Andrew Jackson]] in the South and [[William Henry Harrison]] in the West destroyed the main Indian threats by 1813.

Madison faced formidable obstacles--a divided cabinet, a factious party, a recalcitrant Congress, obstructionist governors, and amazingly incompetent generals, together with militia who refused to fight outside their states. Most serious was lack of unified popular support. There were serious threats of disunion from New England, which engaged in massive smuggling to Canada and refused to provide financial support or soldiers.<ref>Stagg, 1983.</ref> However [[Andrew Jackson]] in the South and [[William Henry Harrison]] in the West destroyed the main Indian threats by 1813.

After the apparent defeat of [[Napoleon]] in 1814, both the British and Americans were exhausted, the causes of the war had been forgotten, the Indian issue was resolved, and it was time for peace.  New England Federalists, however, set up a defeatist [[Hartford Convention]] that discussed secession. The [[Treaty of Ghent]] ended the war in 1815.  There were no territorial gains on either side as both sides returned to ''status quo ante bellum'', that is, the previous boundaries.  The [[Battle of New Orleans]], in which [[Andrew Jackson]] defeated the British regulars, was fought fifteen days after the treaty was signed but before the news of the signing reached New Orleans.  

After the apparent defeat of [[Napoleon]] in 1814, both the British and Americans were exhausted, the causes of the war had been forgotten, the Indian issue was resolved, and it was time for peace.  New England Federalists, however, set up a defeatist [[Hartford Convention]] that discussed secession. The [[Treaty of Ghent]] ended the war in 1815.  There were no territorial gains on either side as both sides returned to ''[[status quo ante bellum]]'', that is, the previous boundaries.  The [[Battle of New Orleans]], in which [[Andrew Jackson]] defeated the British regulars, was fought fifteen days after the treaty was signed but before the news of the signing reached New Orleans.  

With peace finally established, the U.S. was swept by a sense of euphoria and national achievement in finally securing solid independence from Britain. In the U.S., the Federalist Party collapsed and eventually disappeared from politics, as an [[Era of Good Feeling]] emerged with a much lower level of political fear and vituperation, although political contention certainly continued.

With peace finally established, the U.S. was swept by a sense of euphoria and national achievement in finally securing solid independence from Britain. In the U.S., the Federalist Party collapsed and eventually disappeared from politics, as an [[Era of Good Feeling]] emerged with a much lower level of political fear and vituperation, although political contention certainly continued.