President Madison's 1812 War Message

—Curriculum Unit Overview—

Whether the United States shall continue passive under these … accumulating wrongs, or, opposing force to force in defense of their national rights, shall commit a just cause into the hands of the Almighty Disposer of Events, … is a solemn question which the Constitution wisely confides to the legislative department of the Government. In recommending it to their early deliberations I am happy in the assurance that the decision will be worthy the enlightened and patriotic councils of a virtuous, a free, and a powerful nation.
—President James Madison, War Message to Congress Washington, June 1, 1812

Introduction

Abuses to American commerce on the part of Britain and France continued. But in 1810 Napoleon's announcement that France would no longer seize American ships convinced President Madison to allow trade with France. The announcement had conditions attached, and France continued to interfere with American shipping. In the end, however, the U.S. declared war only on Great Britain.

The decision to go to war is one of the most serious an American president faces. On June 1, 1812, President Madison sent a letter—later dubbed his war message—to both houses of Congress. In it, he listed a series of transgressions Great Britain had committed against the U.S. He also explained his decision not to recommend war with France at that time. EDSITEment resources offer primary documents that illuminate key points in President Madison's War Message. Help your students understand the reasons the president gave for going to war, while heightening their appreciation of the value of archival sources.

Guiding Questions

• How did Madison build the case for war in his message to Congress?
• What were the issues in maritime disputes between the U.S. and Great Britain?
• What were the accusations against the British in North America?
• Why did Madison not include a specific declaration of war in his remarks?
• Why did Madison not recommend that Congress should decide whether to wage war on France?

Learning Objectives

• Paraphrase Madison's case against the British.
• Cite important examples of insults to American maritime rights and explain the ways in which they were troubling to the U.S.
• Explain the position of the U.S. in the maritime disputes.
• Discuss accusations made against the British in North America.
• Restate Madison's reasons for asking Congress to postpone making a decision on war with France.

Preparing to Teach This Curriculum Unit

• Review the lesson plan. Locate and bookmark suggested materials and other useful websites. Download and print out documents you will use and duplicate copies as necessary for student viewing.
• Download the blackline masters for this lesson, available here as a PDF file. Print out and make an appropriate number of copies of any handouts you plan to use in class.
• This unit consists of three parts. First, students will read President Madison's War Message (in either an edited/annotated or full-text version) and be given the opportunity to raise questions about its contents. Then the teacher—in a series of optional mini-lessons—will share with the class pertinent examples of primary documents (and some secondary accounts) that illuminate key points in President Madison's letter. The lesson identifies 10 statements in the message about which students are likely to have questions, and it provides relevant materials. If students raise questions about other sections of the letter, class members may be able to locate pertinent documents on their own, once they become familiar with some of the sources available in the records of Congress. In the end, students will return to the War Message, review its contents, and consider what documents might be useful in making further analyses of the text.
• Students can use the Biographical Directory on the EDSITEment resource Congress Link to obtain information (including his party affiliation, when he served, and a link to a brief biography) on any member of Congress mentioned or to explore the influence of party or section of the country on any particular vote mentioned in a document from the House or Senate.
• Throughout this unit, students read and analyze a variety of primary documents. The following materials from EDSITEment resources may be useful to teachers seeking expert advice on the use of primary documents:
• Using Primary Sources in the Classroom on American Memory
• The Historian's Sources on The Library of Congress, a link from American Memory
• Document Analysis Worksheets and History in the Raw on Digital Classroom
• Making Sense of Documents on History Matters
• The following materials from EDSITEment resources may be helpful to students preparing to interpret primary documents:
• Document Analysis Worksheets on Digital Classroom, particularly the Written Document Analysis Worksheet and Cartoon Analysis Worksheet
• Analysis of Primary Sources on The Library of Congress, a link from American Memory This succinct but valuable lesson offers three basic steps for analyzing primary sources:
1. Time and Place Rule
2. Bias Rule
3. Questions for Analyzing Primary Source
• EDSITEment offers a lesson, "James Madison: From Father of the Constitution to President," that you may wish to use to complement this unit.

Unit Lessons

Lesson One: President Madison's 1812 War Message: A Brief Overview

Lesson Two: President Madison's 1812 War Message: A Documentary Review

Lesson Three: President Madison's 1812 War Message: Answers Lead to More Questions

Selected EDSITEment Websites

• American Memory
  [http://memory.loc.gov/]
• The Acts and Orders in Council of Great Britain
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName=
  003/llsp003.db&recNum=270]
• American State Papers
  [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwsp.html]
• American State Papers: INDEX TO FOREIGN RELATIONS. VOL. III.
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field
  (DOCID+@lit(sp0033))]
• Annals of Congress
  [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwac.html]
• British Intrigue in 1812, Starts with Letter from President James Madison, dated March 9, 1812
  • Page 1
    [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llac&fileName
    =023/llac023.db&recNum=577]
  • Page 2
    [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llac&fileName
    =023/llac023.db&recNum=578]
  • Page 3
    [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llac&fileName
    =023/llac023.db&recNum=579]
• Barlow Transmits Document He Has Never Seen (American State Papers, Foreign Relations: Vol. 3, p. 613)
  [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwsp.html]
• A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation
  [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lawhome.html]
• Embargo of France Repealed (and not of Britain)
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =003/llsp003.db&recNum=399]
• Exports by State for Fiscal 1806
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =014/llsp014.db&Page=697]
• Exports by State for Fiscal 1807
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =014/llsp014.db&recNum=726]
• Exports by State for Fiscal 1808
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =014/llsp014.db&Page=739]
• Exports by State for Fiscal 1811
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =014/llsp014.db&Page=893]
• Exports by State for Fiscal 1812
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =014/llsp014.db&recNum=970]
• Exports by State for Fiscal 1814
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =014/llsp014.db&Page=1023]
• Exports by State for Fiscal 1815
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =007/llsp007.db&recNum=807]
• Extract of a Letter from Governor Harrison to the War Department At Vincennes, September 17, 1811
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =007/llsp007.db&recNum=802]
• Extract of a Letter from J. Rhea, captain thirteenth regiment of infantry, dated Fort Wayne, March 14, 1812
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =015/llsp015.db&Page=23]
• Extracts of a Letter from William Wells regarding evidence that British officers were inciting Northwestern Indians to hostilities, February 10, 1812
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =007/llsp007.db&recNum=806]
• Foreign Relations Committee November 29, 1811
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =003/llsp003.db&recNum=544]
• France Restores Harmony with the U.S., Sept. 1810
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =003/llsp003.db&recNum=395]
• Great Britain from Canada, by causing handbills offering great inducements
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =007/llsp007.db&Page=550]
• Great Britain, in Canada, to excite the Indians against the United States
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =007/llsp007.db&recNum=746]
• Great Britain, in exciting the Northwestern Indians to hostilities
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =007/llsp007.db&recNum=806]
• Hostile Movements
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =007/llsp007.db&Page=805]
• House of Representatives: June 3, 1812, Declaration of War
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llac&fileName
  =024/llac024.db&recNum=228]
• Index to the Extracts of Letters to the War Department (first page)
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =007/llsp007.db&recNum=798]
• Index to the Extracts of Letters to the War Department (last page)
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =007/llsp007.db&recNum=799]
• James Madison, State of the Union Address, November 5, 1811
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field
  (DOCID+@lit(hj0084))]
• John Henry, a secret agent of the British Government
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =003/llsp003.db&recNum=553]
• Letter from Captain Thomas Pasteur to Major General Wayne, November 3, 1794
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =007/llsp007.db&Page=550]
• Letter from William Hull, Governor of the Michigan Territory, to Henry Dearborn, the Secretary of War, November 24, 1807
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =007/llsp007.db&recNum=747]
• Letters Confirming That No One Recognizes The French Document (American State Papers, Foreign Relations: Vol. 3, p. 614 )
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =003/llsp003.db&recNum=621]
• Means supposed to be taken by the Governor of Canada to excite the Indians
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =001/llsp001.db&Page=461]
• Message respecting the causes of the failure of the American army on the Northwestern frontier, February 2, 1814
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =016/llsp016.db&Page=439]
• Objections to the War in the Senate (Mr. German)
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llac&fileName
  =023/llac023.db&recNum=133]
• On a request from Congress to supply a list of those impressed, signed by James Madison
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =002/llsp002.db&recNum=781]
• Orders in Council of Nov. 11, 1807
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =003/llsp003.db&recNum=276]
• Petition of the inhabitants of Nantucket, in the State of Massachusetts
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field
  (DOCID+@lit(hj008155))]
• Petitions of sundry inhabitants of Philadelphia county
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field
  (DOCID+@lit(hj008146))]
• Petition from the Citizens of Plymouth May 14, 1812
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field
  (DOCID+@lit(hj008149))]
• Representative Taggert's Objections to the Declaration of War
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llac&fileName
  =024/llac024.db&recNum=228]
• End of Representative Taggert's Objections
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llac&fileName
  =024/llac024.db&recNum=249]
• Representative Taggert's Objections to the War RE: Canada
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llac&fileName
  =024/llac024.db&recNum=241]
• The Report of a committee of the House of Representatives, on the causes which justify the United States in declaring war against Great Britain, 1812, June 3
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =003/llsp003.db&Page=567]
• A Report to the House of Representatives on the American frigate Chesapeake, November 17, 1807
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =003/llsp003.db&Page=6]
• Secretary of State Madison's Summary Chart of Impressments Begins, 1808 (page 36)
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =003/llsp003.db&recNum=41]
• Secretary of State Madison's Summary Chart of Impressments Ends with a Tally of Totals (page 45), 1808
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsp&fileName
  =003/llsp003.db&recNum=50]
• Senate Proceedings of June 17, Page 297
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llac&fileName
  =023/llac023.db&recNum=146]
• Speech on the Floor of the House by Felix Grundy, pages 425-427
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llac&fileName
  =023/llac023.db&recNum=209]
• Speech on the Floor of the House by Felix Grundy, page 427
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llac&fileName
  =023/llac023.db&recNum=210]
• Speech inserted into the Congressional Record by Samuel Taggart begins page 1638
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llac&fileName
  =024/llac024.db&recNum=228]
• Speech inserted into the Congressional Record by Samuel Taggart ends page 1679
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llac&fileName
  =024/llac024.db&recNum=249]
• Thomas Jefferson's Third State of the Union, Washington, DC, 1803-10-17
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field
  (DOCID+@lit(sj003392))]
• Using Primary Sources in the Classroom
  [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/lessons/primary.html]
• WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1812 The Senate Passes the Declaration of War
  [http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field
  (DOCID+@lit(sj005181))]

• The American President
  [http://www.americanpresident.org/]
• James Madison
  [http://www.americanpresident.org/history/jamesmadison/]
• Madison's Presidency: Foreign Affairs
  [http://www.americanpresident.org/history/jamesmadison/biography/
  ForeignAffairs.common.shtml]
• The James Madison Center
  [http://www.jmu.edu/madison/center/]
  • State of the Union, Nov. 5, 1811
    [http://www.jmu.edu/madison/center/main_pages/
    madison_archives/life/presidency/addresses/1811.htm]
  • State of the Union, Nov. 4, 1812
    [http://www.jmu.edu/madison/center/main_pages/
    madison_archives/life/presidency/addresses/1812.htm]
• The Avalon Project
  [http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/avalon.htm]
  • Amendments to the Constitution Proposed by the Hartford Convention (1814)
    [http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/amerdoc/hartconv.htm]
  • United States Constitution
    [http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/usconst.htm]
  • ARTICLE 1: Section 8
    [http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/art1.htm#1sec8]
• Congress Link
  [http://www.congresslink.org/]
  • Biographical Directory
    [http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp]

• Digital Classroom
  [http://www.archives.gov/digital_classroom/index.html]
• Document Analysis Worksheets
  [http://www.archives.gov/digital_classroom/lessons/
  analysis_worksheets/worksheets.html]
• History in the Raw
  [http://www.archives.gov/digital_classroom/
  history_in_the_raw.html]
• Written Document Analysis Worksheet
  [http://www.archives.gov/digital_classroom/lessons/
  analysis_worksheets/document.html]
• Explore D.C.
  [http://www.exploredc.org/index.php]

• Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections
  [http://www.uselectionatlas.org/]
• White House Historical Society
  [http://www.whitehousehistory.org/]
  • Hartford Convention
    [http://www.whitehousehistory.org/04/subs/
    activities_03/c01_01.html]
• History Matters
  [http://historymatters.gmu.edu/]
  • Making Sense of Evidence
    [http://historymatters.gmu.edu/browse/makesense/]
• Internet Public Library
  [http://www.ipl.org]
  • The United States Army
    [http://www.army.mil/]
    • The War of 1812
      [http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/amh/amh-06.htm]

• Grolier Online's The American Presidency
  [http://gi.grolier.com/presidents/preshome.html]
  • Thomas Jefferson
    [http://ap.grolier.com/article?assetid=0221870-00&templatename
    =/article/article.html]
  • The Mariners' Museum
    [http://www.mariner.org/]
    • Admiral Berkeley's Orders to Search the Chesapeake 1st day of June, 1807
      [http://www.mariner.org]
    • Commodore Barron's Inquiry into the Presence of Deserters aboard the Chesapeake April 7, 1807
      [http://www.mariner.org/usnavy/08/08e.htm]
    • A Letter of Impressment Protection
      [http://www.mariner.org/usnavy/caption_pages/
      08b_CWB39ImprssmntProtectio.htm]
    • Messages Exchanged between the Chesapeake and the Leopard, June 22, 1807
      [http://www.mariner.org/usnavy/08/08g.htm]
    • Secondary Account: American Reaction to the Chesapeake Affair
      [http://www.mariner.org/usnavy/08/08c.htm]
    • Secondary Account: The Chesapeake Affair of 1807
      [http://www.mariner.org/usnavy/08/08b.htm]
    • Secondary Account: Entanglement in World Affairs
      [http://www.mariner.org/usnavy/08/08d.htm]
    • Secondary Account: Impressment of American Sailors
      [http://www.mariner.org/usnavy/08/08a.htm]