The Presidency of James MadisonHenry Adams portrayed James Madison as a weak president who lacked both decisiveness and administrative skills. For a century, most historians accepted Adams's assessment. In this new study of the fourth presidency, distinguished historian Robert Allen Rutland paints a more complicated portrait. Rutland, former editor-in-chief of the Madison Papers, sees Madison as a bookish, practical statesman who worked furiously to avoid conflicts in his cabinet and in Congress. When he finally realized England would not be swayed by economic pressure, he boldly led the nation into a second war for independence that allowed the United States to emerge with a renewed sense of dignity and purpose. Madison made some serious errors in judgment, according to Rutland. In time, though, he filled his cabinet with competent men, and, by some unexpected vetoes, renewed his commitment to republican ideals within a constitutional framework. During his last years in office Madison helped fashion a government that would luxuriate during the Era of Good Feeling and withstand the hard knocks of Andrew Jackson's democratic surge. Rutland's lively narrative covers all major events of the Madison administration, including the War of 1812 and the push for national expansion. It provides a fresh interpretation not only of the contribution of Madison's presidency, but also of the "master builder of the Constitution" himself. Madison emerges neither as the weakling painted by Henry Adams nor as a demigod, but rather as a man who attempted to be the president envisioned at the Constitutional Convention and who achieved his highest priority, to strengthen the Union. |
Contents
The Virginia Dynasty Continues | 19 |
More Splendid Misery | 51 |
A Time to Heal a Time to Wound | 71 |
The Dogs of War Unleashed | 99 |
The Fuse of War Sputters | 133 |
A Capitals Not for Burning | 155 |
Dawn of an Era Twilight of a Party | 183 |
Bibliographical Essay | 215 |
Common terms and phrases
administration American ships Armstrong army Bank battle bill Boston Brant Britain British called Canada capital Clay command commerce Congress congressmen Constitution Dearborn defense diplomatic dollars Dolley Madison early election embargo enemy England Europe federal Federalists fight force foreign France French G. P. Putnam's Sons Gallatin George Giles Hartford Convention Henry Adams hereafter cited History Ibid Indian Jackson James Madison John Lake land legislation letter Madi Madison decided Madison knew Madison Papers Madison to Jefferson Madison took March military militia minister Monroe Montpelier Napoleon National Intelligencer negotiations newspaper numbers Orders in Council Orleans party peace Philadelphia political ports presidential Princeton Randolph reports Republic Republican Royal Navy rumors Samuel Taggart secretary seemed Senate sent Smith territory tion told Madison Treasury treaty troops United University Press vessels Virginia vols vote War Hawks Washington West Florida White House Wilkinson William William Branch Giles York