The presidency of James Madison was a presidency about which many people have differing views. Some historians think he was not one of our greatest presidents because he let the United States fall into the conflict known as the War of 1812. Other historians think Madison's presidency was good because he led America out of the War of 1812 and united the country. James Madison's presidency, while not one of the greatest of all presidents, was still above average as a president due to Madison's administrative skills, international relations, and failing leadership. Madison's administrative skills were one of his shortcomings. The War of 1812 could have been avoided if Madison had not been given the misinformation that the United States could easily win it. He allowed himself to be lured into a false sense of security by both his cabinet and the Senate, filled with so-called "war hawks" who boasted that Canada could be taken with just 1,000 Kentucky Rifles. At first he resisted the temptation to go to war, but eventually came to declare war on the British to try to gain more land and to take revenge on the American sailors' impression that what was happening at sea at the time was to satisfy Britain's need of the sailors with his fight against the French and Napoleon took place simultaneously. It is to Madison's credit, however, that even as he allowed the nation to fall into a war for which it was not prepared, he was able, with the nation's help, to win the war and lead the nation into a new era of nationalism within. America.International relations are an important part of every presidency. James Madison, while not having the best skills in this department, had enough knowledge to maintain the nation much better than it could have been if he had made mistakes here. Madison's foreign policy keeps America on good terms with the French and even though there was a war in the end, relations with the English were not as bad compared to what they could have been. Neither side was extremely eager for a war with each other. Before the two nations began war, Madison had initiated policies to try to avoid it and to show the rest of the world that America was not to be taken lightly..