The vote on the War of 1812 in Congress reveal a deep sectional division in the United States because many people were against this war which shows division of thoughts among congress members. Madison feel this war is necessary because the Britain did not stop seizing American ships which traded with the France. the main reason for this seizing is the bad relations among France and Britain.
Yes, it is true that the progressive income tax was aggressively sought by the Populist Party, since they thought that this would free the common man from financial instability.