The First Test: Madison's Strategy, The Constitution, and the War of 1812
Abstract
The Constitution provides the basis for American civil-military relations. From the colonial period onward, fear that a regular standing army would become a tool for despotism shaped both the organization of defenses and the structure of the Constitution. The Founders recognized the tension between liberty and security and did their best to ensure both.In the United States, the discipline of civil-military relations long has focused on civil control of the military. Seemingly, 230 years absent a military coup have demonstrated civil control of the military is secure. Not surprisingly, scholars have turned to other facets of civil-military relations to understand better the relationship between the government and its military arm. In the wake of recent events in Afghanistan and Iraq, some scholars have examined the link between civil-military relations and making effective strategy.One argument recently advanced is that a strict interpretation of the Constitution will alleviate many of the problems recently encounteredwavering public support for current engagements and seemingly flawed strategies. One historical case study to test the relationship between strict construction and strategy is the War of 1812, the first war declared under the Constitution.To examine the relationship between the civil-military relations and the strategy of the war, this paper will trace the ideological and experiential background of the nation; examine the portions of the Constitution related to security, defense, and war-making; describe the security concerns and foreign policy considerations of the United States leading into the war; and finally, examine how the shape of the government and other internal factors influenced President Madisons ability to wage war. What will emerge is a picture of disunity and chaos in spite of a Congressional endorsed declaration of war.While some may argue that the contemporary US military has radically altered since the period from 1812 to 1815,
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- AD1019226
Entities
People
- Margaret C. Martin
Organizations
- Air War College