Madison enacts 90-day embargo on trade with Britain

Background. Congress had repealed the Embargo Act of 1807 shortly before Madison became president, but troubles with the British and French continued. Madison settled on a strategy designed to pit the British and French against each other, offering to trade with whichever country would end its attacks on American shipping. Negotiations with the British collapsed in mid-1809, and although Napoleon promised to end French attacks, the French reneged and continued to seize American shipping.

Commercial Pressure and Its Failure. Motivated in part by a desire to acquire land held by Britain, Spain, and Native Americans, and after diplomatic protests with a trade embargo failed to end British seizures of American-shipped goods, Madison ultimately led the United States into the War of 1812. With sanctions and other policies having failed, Madison determined that war with Britain was the only remaining option.

Aftermath. On June 1, 1812, Madison asked Congress for a declaration of war, stating that the United States could no longer tolerate Britain's "state of war against the United States". The declaration passed along sectional and party lines, with opposition from Federalists and some Northeastern Democratic-Republicans. The war ended inconclusively in 1815.