Primary sourceSpeechMarch 4, 1813

Second Inaugural Address of James Madison

James Madison · March 4, 1813

Madison's own speech given at his second presidential inauguration in 1813, during the War of 1812.

Madison delivered this speech himself at his second inauguration, defending the ongoing War of 1812.

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About this source

What it is

This is the text of James Madison's second inaugural address, delivered on March 4, 1813, as he began his second term as President during the War of 1812.

Why it matters

In this speech, Madison defended the war with Britain as just and necessary, revealing how he justified his wartime leadership to the American public. It shows the pressures a president faced in wartime and how leaders use speeches to build support for difficult decisions.

Look closer

What words does Madison use to describe the war, and what feelings might they have been meant to create in listeners?
Why might Madison emphasize the "justice" of the war so strongly?
What does this speech leave out about the costs or doubts surrounding the war?

This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of James Madison on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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