Edited by J.C.A. Stagg, Jeanne Kerr Cross, and Susan Holbrook
Perdue
This carefully annotated and indexed volume sheds new light on
many of the domestic and foreign tensions that were soon to
culminate in the War of 1812.
The twelve-month period covered in this volume was dominated by
foreign policy concerns, as Madison sought ways to compel Great
Britain to respect America's neutral rights. The documents
chronicle the consequences of Madison's decision to impose
non-intercourse against Great Britain to force a repeal of the
orders in council following Napoleon's claim that he had repealed
French trade restrictions. British doubts that the French appeal
was valid--shared by many Americans and possibly even Madison
himself--are amply documented. The apparent failure of the
diplomacy of commercial restrictions increasingly brought Madison
under pressure at home to change his policies, and by November 1811
he was ready to request Congress to prepare for war.
Madison's attention was also occupied during the year by the
continuing disintegration of the Spanish colonial empire. His
correspondence addresses the consequences arising from the
annexation of West Florida, and records America's first diplomatic
contacts with other rebellious Spanish-American colonies.
On the domestic front, this volume illuminates Madison's painful
decision to dismiss Secretary of State Robert Smith and replace him
with James Monroe.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!