The presidency of James Madison began on March 4, 1809, when James Madison was inaugurated as the fourth president of the United States, and ended on March 4, 1817, after two terms.

1809

March 1809 March 4 James Madison is inaugurated as the fourth president of the United States. George Clinton becomes vice president. Madison retains Albert Gallatin as secretary of the treasury, Caesar Rodney as attorney general, Gideon Granger as postmaster general, and Robert Smith as secretary of the navy. March 6 – Robert Smith becomes secretary of state. March 7 – William Eustis becomes secretary of war. Paul Hamilton succeeds Robert Smith as secretary of the navy. March 15 – The Supreme Court issues its decision in Bank of the United States v. Deveaux. It rules that corporations can file or receive lawsuits in federal court in cases of diversity jurisdiction. March 25 – The American delegation to the United Kingdom learns that, despite the Erskine Agreement, the UK has decided not to revoke the 1807 Orders in Council. This news will not reach the United States for another six weeks.

April 1809 April 19 – Madison proclaims the Erskine Agreement that will end the American embargo on the United Kingdom.

May 1809 May 22 – The 11th United States Congress opens its first session. May 23 – Madison informs Congress that following the Erskine Agreement, trade with the United Kingdom can resume on June 10.

June 1809 The 11th United States Congress adjourns its first session.

July 1809 July 31 – The 1801 friendship and commerce treaty between France and the United States expires.

August 1809 August 1 – Albert Gallatin considers resigning as secretary of the treasury amid his unpopularity among Congress and the cabinet, but Madison persuades him not to. August 9 – Madison restores the embargo on the United Kingdom.

September 1809 September 30 – The United Signs the Treaty of Fort Wayne with the Delaware, Eel River, Miami, and Potawatomi peoples.

October 1809 October 26 – The United States signs a treaty with the Wea.

November 1809 November 5 – John Quincy Adams becomes the first United States minister plenipotentiary to Russia. The 11th United States Congress opens its second session. November 29 – Madison delivers the 1809 State of the Union Address.

December 1809 December 9 – The United States signs a treaty with the Kickapoo. December 12 – Madison nominates Buckner Thruston to the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia.

1810 January 1810 January 3 – In response to disagreements with Spain over West Florida, Madison requests from Congress the power to raise 100,000 militiamen.

February 1810

March 1810 March 16 – The Supreme Court issues its decision in Fletcher v. Peck. It rules that the state government of Georgia could not revoke the deeds sold to speculators during the Yazoo land scandal despite the seller acquiring them illegally.

April 1810 April 16 – The Supreme Court rules in Fletcher v. Peck that Georgia's resolutions to the Yazoo land scandal violated contract rights. This is the first time that the Supreme Court has struck down a state law as unconstitutional. Madison responds by stating his intent to appoint members of his own party to the court.

May 1810 May 1 Macon's Bill Number 2 replaces the Non-Intercourse Act, restoring American trade with France and the United Kingdom. It provides for the ability to restore either embargo depending on the countries' responses. The 11th United States Congress adjourns its second session.

June 1810 June 7 – Thomas Sumter Jr. becomes minister plenipotentiary to Portugal, filling the vacancy left by William Loughton Smith in 1801. June 22 – The 1800 treaty of amity and commerce between Prussia and the United States expires. Portions will be revived in 1828.

July 1810

August 1810 August 5 – The Cadore Letter is delivered to the American minister in France. It says France will end the trade restrictions imposed by the Berlin Decree and the Milan Decree if the United Kingdom ends its restrictions, or if the United States restores its restrictions against the United Kingdom. August 6 – The 1810 United States census begins.

September 1810 September 14 – John Armstrong Jr. ends his tenure as minister plenipotentiary to France.

October 1810 October 27 – Madison authorizes the occupation and annexation of Spanish West Florida after Americans seize land and establish the Republic of West Florida. He declares it to be part of the land sold to the United States during the Louisiana Purchase.

November 1810 November 2 – France and the United States agree to normalize trade under the terms of Macon's Bill Number 2. November 5 – Jonathan Russell becomes chargé d'Affaires to France while the position of minister plenipotentiary is vacant.

December 1810 December 3 – The 11th United States Congress opens its third session. December 5 – Madison delivers the 1810 State of the Union Address.

1811 January 1811 January 2 – Madison nominates Levi Lincoln Sr. to the Supreme Court, but he declines. He nominates John Tyler Sr. to the District Court for the District of Virginia. January 11 – The No-Transfer Resolution of 1811 decrees that the United States will oppose the acquisition of Florida (then part of the Spanish Empire) by other countries. January 15 – The president is authorized to occupy West Florida.

February 1811 February 2 – Madison restores the American embargo on the United Kingdom. France had agreed to normalize trade with the United States, but it continues seizing American ships. February 4 – Madison nominates Alexander Wolcott to the Supreme Court. February 13 – The Senate rejects Wolcott's Supreme Court nomination. February 20 – The Territory of Orleans is authorized to form a state government. February 21 Madison nominates John Quincy Adams to the Supreme Court, but he declines. Madison vetoes the incorporation of an Episcopal church in Washington, D.C., arguing that it would violate the Establishment Clause. February 28 – Madison vetoes an offer of land in the Mississippi Territory to a Baptist congregation, arguing that it would violate the Establishment Clause.

March 1811 March 2 The Non-Importation Act of 1811 restores a ban on British good or ships in American ports. The Indian Trading House Act of 1811 reauthorizes the president to appoint a superintendent of Indian trade to oversee trade with Native American tribes. March 3 The First Bank of the United States closes after Congress declines to extend its charter, fearing potential British influence. The 11th United States Congress adjourns its third session.

April 1811 April 2 – James Monroe succeeds Robert Smith as secretary of state.

May 1811 May 7 – William Pinkney's tenure as minister plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom ends. May 16 – A battle takes place between the American frigate USS President and the British frigate HMS Little Belt.

June 1811

July 1811 July 2 – Robert Smith, Madison's former secretary of state, publishes Address to the People of the United States, in which he criticizes Madison's cabinet. July 6 – British minister to the United States Augustus Foster arrives in Washington, D.C. and threatens action against American commerce if Madison maintains an embargo against the United Kingdom. July 24 – Madison schedules a special session of Congress for November 4 in regard to the conflict with the United Kingdom.

August 1811

September 1811

October 1811

November 1811 November 4 – The 12th United States Congress opens its first session. November 5 – Madison delivers the 1811 State of the Union Address. He uses it to prepare for war with the United Kingdom. November 7 – The Battle of Tippecanoe takes place. A militia led by William Henry Harrison, an army general and the incumbent governor of Indiana Territory, defeats Tecumseh and the Shawnee. The battle was a preemptive strike in response to Tecumseh's efforts to confederate the Native American tribes. November 15 Madison nominates Gabriel Duvall and Joseph Story to the Supreme Court to fill the vacancies left by Samuel Chase and William Cushing, respectively. Jonathan Russell becomes chargé d'Affaires to the United Kingdom while the position of minister plenipotentiary is vacant. November 18 – Joel Barlow becomes minister plenipotentiary to France, filling the vacancy left by John Armstrong in 1810. November 25 – James Monroe becomes secretary of state.

December 1811 December 5 – Caesar Rodney resigns as attorney general. December 11 – William Pinkney succeeds Caesar Rodney as attorney general. December 18 – Madison briefs Congress on the Battle of Tippecanoe.

1812 January 1812 January 11 – The cap on enlistment for the United States Army is increased by 25,000 men. January 14 – Funding of $1.5 million is authorized for army equipment and $400,000 for naval equipment. January 27 – Congress considers a law expanding the navy, but it fails in the House of Representatives.

February 1812 February 7 – Madison issues pardons to military deserters who return to duty.

March 1812 March 3 – The Supreme Court delivers its decision in New Jersey v. Wilson that Indian territory retains any rights granted to it when sold to non-Indians. March 9 – Madison reports on the Henry letters of the spy John Henry, which implicate James Henry Craig, the governor general of Canada, of subversive activity in New England. March 13 – Madison nominates Thomas Parker to the District Court for the District of South Carolina, but he declines. March 14 – The president is authorized to borrow up to $11 million for military funding. March 21 – Augustus Foster informs the United States that the United Kingdom will not end its hostile action against American ships. March 23 – News reaches the United States that France has sunk American ships that had been delivering flour to the British army. Support for war against France grows in Congress. March 29 – The first White House wedding occurs when Thomas Todd, a justice of the Supreme Court, marries Lucy Washington, the sister of first lady Dolley Madison, at the White House.

April 1812 April 1 – Madison asks Congress to impose an embargo on all vessels in port. This is a response to the French sinking of American ships. April 3 – Madison vetoes a bill that would allow Supreme Court justices to fill vacancies in other judicial positions, determining that it is a violation of the separation of powers. April 4 – An embargo on all American ships in port is enacted. April 8 – A bill is passed allowing the Orleans Territory to be admitted as a U.S. state named Louisiana. April 10 – The president is authorized to raise up to 100,000 militiamen. April 14 – The planned borders of Louisiana are expanded to include the Florida Parishes of West Florida. April 20 – Vice President George Clinton dies, leaving the office of vice president vacant. April 22 – Madison nominates John Fisher to the District Court for the District of Delaware. April 25 – Louisiana is admitted as the eighteenth state of the United States.

May 1812 May 4 – Madison nominates John Drayton to the District Court for the District of South Carolina. May 6 – Surveys are authorized for six million acres of land to be divided and distributed to soldiers following the completion of their service. May 18 – The Democratic-Republican Party renominates Madison to be its candidate for the presidency. May 23 – Madison prepares to make a case for war after reading a letter from Lord Castlereigh to Augustus Foster confirming that the United Kingdom would continue its actions against shipping. May 25 – Madison nominates William P. Van Ness to the District Court for the District of New York.