History Professor on James Madison and the War of 1812 | Diplomatic Immunity

In this episode of Diplomatic Immunity, host Kelly McFarland sits down with Dr. Tyson Reeder, assistant professor of history at Brigham Young University and author of Serpent in Eden: Foreign Meddling and Partisan Politics in James Madison's America (Oxford University Press, 2024 — winner of the 2025 George Washington Prize). Together, they explore the presidency of James Madison as part of our 2026 Road to 250 series, examining key turning points in American foreign policy. Topics covered: Who was James Madison and how did he shape early American foreign policy? The Embargo of 1807 — Madison's brainchild and spectacular failure The causes of the War of 1812: Impressment, westward expansion, and partisan politics How foreign powers like Britain and France manipulated American domestic politics The war's inconclusive end and what the U.S. actually gained The road from Madison to the Monroe Doctrine How this destructive cycle of foreign meddling nearly left the founding charters in ashes 0:00 — Intro & episode overview 2:13 — Who was James Madison? 5:06 — Madison's presidency & the economic coercion strategy 6:49 — The Embargo of 1807 & why it failed 9:40 — Causes of the War of 1812 12:14 — Impressment & British conscription 16:35 — Westward expansion & national security 19:58 — Madison constrained by his own governing philosophy 25:36 — The Treaty of Ghent & what was (not) resolved 30:42 — Foreign meddling, partisan politics & lessons for today Produced by Freddie Mallinson and Mislav Majcan. Recorded on 3 March, 2026. Diplomatic Immunity, a podcast from the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, brings you frank and candid conversations with experts on the issues facing diplomats and national security decision-makers around the world. Funding support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. For more, visit our website, and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram @gudiplomacy 🔔 Subscribe for more in-depth conversations on diplomacy, foreign policy, and international relations. 🎙️ Check out our previous episode: Road to 250: Thomas Jefferson's foreign policy with Frank Cogliano Book mentioned: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/... #ForeignPolicy #JamesMadison #AmericanHistory #Warof1812 #Diplomacy #History