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00:00The British have captured Fort Mackinac, and there has been a massacre of U.S. soldiers and civilians at Fort
00:08Dearborn.
00:13More bad news, Clay?
00:15General Hull has surrendered Detroit.
00:19Our forces outnumber them two to one, and that old fool raises the white flag.
00:26Defeat after defeat after defeat.
00:31These reverses cannot be sustained, Mr. President.
00:35People fear a return to British rule in America.
00:40I've never allowed that to happen.
00:51Don't look so downcast, Jimmy.
00:54My troops are making some headway.
00:57Not enough, Tully.
01:00They've been routed too many times.
01:05Look at them.
01:07Smiling when they see that I'm looking their way, but whispering and plodding the second that my back is turned.
01:14The War of 1812 is the second time the United States has declared war against Great Britain.
01:21And one of the challenges they faced was how unprepared militarily they were, and really the United States is soon
01:30wracked by a series of losses and defeats.
01:33And there's real fear in the United States that they may lose this war.
01:40Hell's team.
01:41We've got to deal with that blowhardened chief.
01:45Mrs. Madison.
01:48Mr. Madison.
01:50Mr. President.
01:52Is what I think you mean to say.
01:54Of course.
01:55So, Mr. President.
01:56Mr. President.
01:57I am surprised to see you so publicly celebrating.
02:00Is there some great victory of which we have yet unaware?
02:03Who?
02:04Has Canada fallen?
02:05Well, when that happens, Clay, you'll be the first to know.
02:10Oh.
02:10That is a shame.
02:13People need to be fed a steady diet of victories.
02:16Currently, they're being served scraps.
02:19Pretty soon, they may turn on the chef.
02:23It was often called Mr. Madison's War, particularly by his enemies.
02:29He's the president.
02:31He approved of it.
02:32But there's also some sarcasm in it, because James Madison has never heard a shot fired in anger.
02:41And now he's a war leader.
02:45What in the name of hell?
02:52Oh, great.
02:53More bad news.
02:55I knew that old man was too weak.
02:57Too old.
03:06And when did he receive this?
03:17Well...
03:19Ladies and gentlemen, this brave sailor has brought news of a great victory.
03:28The USS United States engaged the British frigate HMS Macedonian off the coast of Madeira.
03:36Despite being outgunned, the United States defeated the Macedonian and captured her crew.
03:43Victory!
03:46Blood live the United States!
03:49The funny thing about the War of 1812 is that the very few victories that the Americans had over the
03:55British were naval,
03:56which was very surprising on both sides, may I say, since the British Navy was just sort of world-celebrated.
04:02But there it is.
04:03That victory really gives Americans hopes that they can beat the British,
04:08that there is a path forward, and that all is not lost.
04:13Oh, please excuse me.
04:25James?
04:27What did we talk about avoiding the French ambassador?
04:33Well?
04:35Jimmy?
04:38Seems our moment of triumph is short-lived.
04:41The ambassador just told me that Napoleon's armies are in full retreat in Russia.
04:48Unfortunate for the French.
04:50But how does that hurt us?
04:52As if Napoleon falls.
04:55The British will be able to divert all their forces away from the French.
05:01And towards us,
05:03we will face the greatest military power alone.
05:08Keep everyone entertained.
05:10I need a few minutes.
05:13Just for myself, please.
05:21Oh, it's an outplay.
05:23It's a goddamn war crime, Hampton.
05:25Look.
05:26On the night of the 25th of June, British troops landed near Hampton.
05:30The 400 local militiamen gathered to oppose them, put up a tough, but brief resistance before being beaten back and
05:35compelled to flee through the nearby wood.
05:37While rounding up prisoners, one captured American officer was relieved of his epaulets by several foreigners and murdered, while another
05:44militiamen was robbed, led into a false sense of security, and then deliberately executed in cold blood.
05:50God damn it!
05:51When they were caught on the heels of the retreating militia, the British troops quickly moved into Hampton, dispersing to
05:57plunder in every direction.
05:58They inflicted brutal treatment upon several peaceable inhabitants, whose age or infirmities rendered them unable to get out of the
06:05way.
06:05They're in committing every horror with impunity.
06:08Rape, murder, pillage, the British are laughing at us!
06:13They think our army and our president are weak!
06:16Madison is living on borrowed time.
06:27The president is worse today.
06:40I don't think I'm back to work.
06:43There's so much to do.
06:46The war.
06:49Shh.
06:52Your cabinet and the chiefs of the army and navy have everything under control.
07:01Well, I did.
07:09It's Tuesday.
07:12In the summer of 1813, James Madison is going to fall violently ill.
07:17He has diarrhea, he's vomiting bile, he's got fevers.
07:22Congress.
07:24I'm meant to be attending Congress.
07:27You need to think of an excuse for me.
07:44Lehman, please tell Mr. Monroe to draft a letter to Congress.
07:48Tell them the president won't be able to attend today because...
07:56What would you like me to tell them, Mrs. Madison?
08:01Tell Mr. Monroe to think of a suitable reason.
08:22Come back to me, James.
08:28Please.
08:30I need you.
08:35Our nation needs you.
08:40Please, Mr. Monroe.
08:45The president must be given more time.
08:47More time?
08:48The president hasn't been seen in weeks.
08:51Where is he?
08:52I am assured that the president is working from the president's house.
08:55The British are beating us bloody.
08:59We want the truth!
09:03Rumors of Madison's illness spread far and wide.
09:07Even John Adams hears that Madison is taking so much laudanum that he is delirious and may not live much
09:14longer.
09:15And in this war that was already divisive, his illness only kind of strengthened the voices of his opposition.
09:27Stand out of the way.
09:28The president is not admitted because of the search.
09:31Step aside, I have prayed a lot.
09:36What is the meaning of this?
09:38Mrs. Madison.
09:41So it is true.
09:44Dear God, he looks half dead.
09:47You must not judge the president as you see him now.
09:51He suffers badly today, but most days he is busy at his work.
09:59Please.
10:01Don't ruin him.
10:04You misjudge me, Mr. Madison.
10:11James?
10:14Hey.
10:16There he is.
10:19There he is.
10:26All right, now don't say anything.
10:28You just listen now.
10:31There's talk about an amendment to the Constitution.
10:35The nation is in peril, and many in Congress, not just your enemies, but men in your own party.
10:43They think it's time to act now before the worst happens.
10:48They think James will die?
10:52Something he's already did, and you're just hiding the fact.
10:55At the time, the Constitution is very clear on what happens if a president passes away.
11:02It's not clear on what happens if a president is incapacitated.
11:06And so the question is very much open about who should be leading this war effort in the absence of
11:14the commander-in-chief.
11:16James, you need to get well, okay?
11:20You need to come back to Congress and show those naysayers that you are still in command of your body,
11:26of your faculties.
11:27You're a fight, James.
11:29You're a fight.
11:30There's a war to be won.
11:32We need our commander-in-chief.
11:51I'll go back to Congress.
11:53I'll tell them that I've seen the president, that he's still alive.
11:57Now, we'll buy some time, but you need to rouse him out of that bed.
12:02I shall.
12:03Well, you know what I thought, Senator.
12:10I'm a man who loves this country, Mrs. Mervis.
12:37Gentlemen, sad to say, I have no new updates on the president's condition, so we must press.
12:59Mr. President, happy to see you.
13:06Who would like to begin?
13:09Oh, Mr. Munro.
13:14What news from the Atlantic Theater?
13:21The war still isn't going very well.
13:24The ground forces are going nowhere.
13:26With Napoleon's defeat, the British can start to focus more on the United States,
13:31and as part of that, Britain starts to go on more of an offensive war.
13:43John, is it true?
13:54It's true.
13:56The British have landed in Benedict.
13:59And where are they headed?
14:01The president was hoping Baltimore, but no.
14:05Looks like they're fixing to head our way.
14:08And if they march on Washington, how long before they arrive?
14:15Four days.
14:17Five tops.
14:21The British realized that D.C. may be vulnerable.
14:25It is still a young city.
14:27It does not have the same fortifications or natural defenses that some other ports in the United States have.
14:32And so they decide to launch an invasion of the capital.
14:39America's last line.
14:42Local boys with guns and knives.
14:44During the War of 1812, the White House really sat as an open target.
14:50It didn't have any of the security that you'd associate with what is the president's home.
14:55There is just a small militia force guarding the White House.
15:00There was no fence.
15:01You could just walk onto the lawn.
15:04What the hell?
15:15A message from the British High Command.
15:18Oh?
15:19What is it?
15:20That's not for me.
15:21It's for you, Dolly.
15:24From Admiral Sir George Cockburn.
15:28Commander.
15:29British forces in Maryland.
15:31What does it say?
15:36That he soon expects to take his bow in my drawing room.
15:40How dare he?
15:42You can tell the Admiral will see him soon enough.
15:45But he can kneel.
15:47Not bow.
15:49Aren't you Quakers supposed to be pacifists?
15:52Yes.
15:54But it never suited me anyway.
15:57Okay.
15:58Okay.
16:02You don't have to do this.
16:05You have generals.
16:08Admirals.
16:09They must fight the battle and you must guide the nation.
16:13If you are injured or killed, it will serve no cause other than the British kings.
16:18Dolly, we've been through this.
16:20Imagine how it would look me asking our fellow Americans to lay down their lives if I will not.
16:27Anyway, my lack of height will finally be an advantage.
16:30Of all those British bullets flying over my head.
16:43I love you.
16:48I'll go and kick those British bastards all the way back into the Potomac.
16:52Yes, ma'am.
16:55James Madison is going out into the field to try to gather intelligence about where the British are going to
17:03attack.
17:09He has to borrow a horse and he has to borrow a dueling pistol because he doesn't own any weapons
17:15himself.
17:16James Madison becomes the first and only president to ride into battle.
17:41We're all going to die, ain't we?
17:46Yes.
17:48But only the Lord above us knows the day.
17:51Maybe he ain't ready for us just yet.
18:00I heard some of the English soldiers here in Norway's free black folk.
18:04Sign up on the same pay as white soldiers.
18:07Same pension too.
18:09All they got to do is sign a bit of paper and there it is, they're free.
18:28Now, I wouldn't judge a man for doing it.
18:31But me, I'm sticking by the mistress.
18:36Make sure she doesn't get into any mischief.
18:39See, Mrs. Madison is too damn brave for her own sakes.
18:42If I leave her to her own devices, she'll be running towards the redcoats with a pair of pistols.
18:52For me, African Americans, it had to be a huge temptation.
18:56But instead of joining with the British when they invaded Washington, D.C., the enslaved Africans owned by President Madison,
19:05they stay with the First Lady.
19:19A bit early in the day for stargazing, Mrs. Madison.
19:22I was hoping to catch sight of my husband.
19:25Or maybe the British.
19:28But all I've seen so far is a lot of our fellow Washingtonians fleeing.
19:34And an impressively randy bull having fun in the lower fields.
19:41What's on your mind, John?
19:42I came up to see if you wanted to continue with the preparations for dinner tonight.
19:46Of course.
19:48Why would not?
19:494 p.m.
19:50It must all be ready for 4 p.m.
19:53She's determined that she's going to receive James Madison back in the White House and they're going to have dinner
19:58together that night.
20:02Oh, damn.
20:03She wasn't lying about that bull.
20:15Madison's decision to visit the troops, it's a daring, risky decision.
20:22He would have seen a ragtag outfit of U.S. militia who are trying to put up the best fight
20:30they can against trained British regulars.
20:33But by about 2 o'clock p.m., it's very clear that the American forces are not going to win
20:39this battle.
20:41These men stand at the first lines of defense are breached.
20:44I can't swear to it, Mr. President.
20:48How far is the president's house from here, would you say?
20:52Seven miles.
20:53About that.
20:55Dolly.
20:58Dolly.
21:01Dolly.
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