Lesson Plan

Lesson 1: President Madison's 1812 War Message: A Brief Overview

Photo caption

James Madison.

According to the essay James Madison, 'Creating the Balance' on the EDSITEment resource The American President, "Madison's presidency was dominated by a crisis with Great Britain, which for years had been grossly violating American shipping rights." This crisis over U.S. shipping rights actually began while George Washington was president and grew during Thomas Jefferson's term in office (1800-1808), when Madison served as Secretary of State. Between 1805-07, a large number of American ships were seized and impressments of American sailors into service on British ships increased, leading Congress to pass an extreme measure, the Embargo Act of 1807. The act restricted trade with foreign nations. A state of war that began in 1803 and would continue until after Napoleon's abdication in 1814 resulted in a loss of commerce that devastated the American economy while doing little to change the policies of France and Britain.

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 President Madison build a case that Congress should consider declaring war with Great Britain?

Was the U.S. justified in going to war with Great Britain in 1812?

Learning Objectives

Analyze President Madison's argument and evaluate the evidence presented to Congress regarding war with Great Britain.

Determine the perspectives and documents needed to answer questions that remain regarding Madison's case for war.

Lesson Plan Details

Content Standards

NCSS.D1.1.9-12. Explain how a question reflects an enduring issue in the field.

NCSS.D2.His.1.9-12. Evaluate how historical events and developments were shaped by unique circumstances of time and place as well as broader historical contexts.

NCSS.D2.His.2.9-12. Analyze change and continuity in historical eras.

NCSS.D2.His.3.9-12. Use questions generated about individuals and groups to assess how the significance of their actions changes over time and is shaped by the historical context.

NCSS.D2.His.4.9-12. Analyze complex and interacting factors that influenced the perspectives of people during different historical eras.

NCSS.D2.His.5.9-12. Analyze how historical contexts shaped and continue to shape people’s perspectives.

NCSS.D2.His.6.9-12. Analyze the ways in which the perspectives of those writing history shaped the history that they produced.

NCSS.D3.2.9-12. Evaluate the credibility of a source by examining how experts value the source.

NCSS.D4.1.9-12. Construct arguments using precise and knowledgeable claims, with evidence from multiple sources, while acknowledging counterclaims and evidentiary weaknesses.

NCSS.D4.3.9-12. Present adaptations of arguments and explanations that feature evocative ideas and perspectives on issues and topics to reach a range of audiences and venues outside the classroom using print and oral technologies (e.g., posters, essays, letters, debates, speeches, reports, and maps) and digital technologies (e.g., Internet, social media, and digital documentary).

Preparation

Read with or to the class "President Madison's War Message, Full-Text Version" in the Master PDF. An edited and annotated version is shown in the activity. If desired, use the Written Document Analysis Worksheet on the EDSITEment resource National Archives Educator Resources to guide your follow-up discussion.

Lesson Activities

Activity 1. A Brief Overview

Read with or to the class "President Madison's War Message, Full-Text Version" in the PDF. An edited and annotated version is shown below. If desired, use the Written Document Analysis Worksheet on the EDSITEment resource National Archives Educator Resources to guide your follow-up discussion.

Ask students to point out any statements in the text they do not understand or about which they have questions. Note the troubling passages. Write down their questions. What documents/information do the students hypothesize would be useful to their understanding of Madison's message? The class will return to the War Message at the end of the unit, at which time their understanding should be deeper.

President Madison's War Message, Edited/Annotated Version

All of the language in the document below is from the original. However, the following edits have been made to allow for the document to be read aloud smoothly:

Some spelling and punctuation has been standardized to avoid confusion.
Words in italics are defined in the parentheses that follow. The words in parentheses can generally be substituted for the italicized words, when desired.
Ellipses represent gaps in the text.

War Message to Congress, June 1, 1812

"To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:

"I communicate to Congress certain documents, being a continuation of those heretofore laid before them on the subject of our affairs with Great Britain.

"Without going back beyond the renewal in 1803 of the war in which Great Britain is engaged, and omitting unrepaired wrongs of inferior magnitude, the conduct of her Government presents a series of acts hostile to the United States as an independent and neutral nation.

"British cruisers have been in the continued practice of violating the American flag on the great highway of nations, and of seizing and carrying off persons sailing under it … British jurisdiction is thus extended to neutral vessels in a situation where no laws can operate but the law of nations and the laws of the country to which the vessels belong …

"… under the pretext of searching for these (British subjects), thousands of American citizens, under the safeguard of public law and of their national flag, have been torn from their country and from everything dear to them; have been dragged on board ships of war of a foreign nation … to risk their lives in the battles of their oppressors …

"British cruisers have been in the practice also of violating the rights and the peace of our coasts. They hover over and harass our entering and departing commerce … and have wantonly spilt American blood …

"… our commerce has been plundered in every sea, the great staples of our country have been cut off from their legitimate markets, and a destructive blow aimed at our agricultural and maritime interests …

"… Great Britain…formally avowed (declared) a determination to persist in them (insults to American maritime rights) against the United States until the markets of her enemy (Britain's enemy, France) should be laid open to British products, thus asserting an obligation on a neutral power (the U.S.) to require one belligerent (combatant in a war) to encourage by its internal regulations the trade of another belligerent

"In reviewing the conduct of Great Britain toward the United States our attention is necessarily drawn to the warfare just renewed by the savages (Native Americans) on one of our extensive frontiers -- a warfare which is known to spare neither age nor sex and to be distinguished by features peculiarly shocking to humanity. It is difficult to account for … their hostility … without recollecting the authenticated examples of such interpositions (British intrigues with the Indians) …

"We behold, in fine, on the side of Great Britain, a state of war against the United States, and on the side of the United States a state of peace toward Great Britain.

"Whether the United States shall continue passive (not to take any action) … 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.

"… the communications last made to Congress on the subject of our relations with France will have shown that since the revocation of her decrees, as they violated the neutral rights of the United States, her Government has authorized illegal captures by its privateers and public ships, and that other outrages have been practiced on our vessels and our citizens … I abstain (refrain) at this time from recommending to the consideration of Congress definitive measures with respect to that nation (France), in the expectation that the result of … discussions between our minister … at Paris and the French Government will speedily enable Congress to decide with greater advantage on the course due to the rights, the interests, and the honor of our country."