= The Presidency of James Madison =

'''The Presidency of James Madison''' (accessible through [[https://archive.org/details/presidencyofjame0000rutl]]) was written by Robert Allen Rutland in 1990.

The author places [[UnitedStates/JamesMadison|Madison's]] decisions regarding the [[WorldHistory/NapoleonicWars|Napoleonic Wars]] into the context of:
 * West Florida
   * "Initially, President Madison took the same line that he had held as a cabinet member: When the war in Europe ended, the business of acquiring Florida could proceed." (p.60)
   * Crisis emerged when insurgent American settlers seized Baton Rouge, declared an independent state of West Florida, and appointed a president to negotiate annexation to the U.S.
   * Madison ordered the governor of the Orleans Territory to occupy West Florida
     * In a letter to [[UnitedStates/ThomasJefferson|Jefferson]], he pointed to the recent British intervention in Venezuela and suggested they might similarly intervene in Florida if he did not move to occupy. (p.67)
 * [[UnitedStates/EconomicPolicy/MaconsBillNumber2|Macon's Bill Number 2]]
   * "Madison was not a visible supporter of the bill, and in private he through it a legislative hodge-podge. ... But the wording of the new act left an escape hatch, if Napoleon could find it." (pp.62-63)
   * What Madison did not account for what the declaration that French controls would be revoked conditional on British controls being revoked. When that was demonstrated to be impossible, Madison was forced to declare for the French side in trade.



----
CategoryRicottone