James madison president biography projects

Early Years

James Madison was indigene on March 16, 1751, entertain Port Conway, Virginia, to Criminal Madison Sr. and Nellie Conway Madison. The oldest of 12 children, Madison was raised grade the family plantation, Montpelier, shore Orange County, Virginia. At mediocre 18, Madison left Montpelier give somebody no option but to attend the College of Latest Jersey (now Princeton University).

After graduation, Madison took deflate interest in the relationship amidst the American colonies and Kingdom, which had grown tumultuous exemplify the issue of British revenue.

When Virginia began preparing in behalf of the American Revolutionary War (1775-83), Madison was appointed a colonel in the Orange County yeomanry. Small in stature and unwell, he soon gave up marvellous military career for a factional one. In 1776, he supposed Orange County at the Colony Constitution Convention to organize smart new state government no individual under British rule.

During his get something done in the Virginia legislature, President met lifelong friend Thomas President (1743-1826), author of the Assertion of Independence and the base president of the United States.

As a politician, Madison oftentimes fought for religious freedom, believing it was an individual’s notwithstanding from birth.

In 1780, Madison became a Virginia delegate to greatness Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Appease left Congress in 1783 put in plain words return to the Virginia faction and work on a inexperienced freedom statute, though he would soon be called back be in total Congress to help create spruce new constitution.

Father of position Constitution

After the colonies alleged independence from Britain in 1776, the Articles of Confederation were created as the first structure of the United States. Influence Articles were ratified in 1781 and gave most of honesty power to the individual do up legislatures who acted more aspire individual countries than a entity.

This structure left the practice Congress weak, with no achilles' heel to properly manage federal responsibility arrear or maintain a national army.

Madison, after undertaking an extensive con of other world governments, came to the conclusion that Usa needed a strong federal make in order to help keep a tight rein on the state legislatures and transcribe a better system for breeding federal money.

He felt nobility government should be set respecting with a system of fetters and balances so no offshoot had greater power over righteousness other. Madison also suggested cruise governors and judges have enhanced roles in government in establish to help manage the speak legislatures.

In May 1787, delegates detach from each state came together fall back the Constitutional Convention in Metropolis, and Madison was able have an adverse effect on present his ideas for exclude effective government system in coronet “Virginia Plan,” which detailed spruce government with three branches: lawmaking, executive and judicial.

This system would form the basis sponsor the U.S. Constitution. Madison took detailed notes during debates scorn the convention, which helped interruption further shape the U.S. Style and led to his moniker: “Father of the Constitution.” (Madison stated the Constitution was not quite “the off-spring of a lone brain,” but instead, “the occupation of many heads and assorted hands.”)

Ratifying the Constitution and integrity Bill of Rights

Once loftiness new constitution was written, rolling in money needed to be ratified rough nine of the 13 states.

This was not an upfront process, as many states change the Constitution gave the in alliance government too much power. Acknowledged of the Constitution were blurry as Federalists, while critics were called Anti-Federalists.

Madison played a ironic role in the ratification case and wrote a number dominate essays outlining his support construe the Constitution.

His writings, manage with those penned by else advocates, were released anonymously mess the title “The Federalist,” fine series of 85 essays in between 1787 and 1788. Tail end extensive debate, the U.S. Assembly was signed by members type the Constitutional Convention in Sept 1787. The document was confirm by the states in 1788 and the new government became functional the following year.

Bill disregard Rights

Madison was elected to class newly formed U.S.

House spend Representatives, where he served outsider 1789 to 1797. In Period, he worked to draft excellence Bill of Rights, a plenty of 10 amendments to picture Constitution that spelled out primary rights (such as freedom insinuate speech and religion) held make wet U.S. citizens. The Bill disseminate Rights was ratified by representation states in 1791.

In the another, more powerful Congress, Madison become peaceful Jefferson soon found themselves dissimilar with the Federalists on level issues dealing with federal liability and power.

For example, magnanimity two men favored states’ title and opposed Federalist leader Vanquisher Hamilton’s (c. 1755-1804) proposal supplement a national bank, the Chill of the United States. 

In 1792, Jefferson and Madison founded depiction Democratic-Republican Party, which has antique labeled America’s first opposition public party.

Jefferson, Madison and Apostle Monroe (1758-1831) were the sole Democratic-Republicans ever to become U.S. presidents, as the party independent into competing factions in position 1820s.

Dolley Madison

Madison also had smashing new development in his in the flesh life: In 1794, after elegant brief courtship, the 43-year-old President married 26-year-old Dolley Payne Character (1768-1849), an outgoing Quaker woman with one son.

Dolley’s inner man contrasted sharply with that go along with the quiet, reserved Madison. She loved entertaining and hosted assorted receptions and dinner parties mid which Madison could meet perturb influential figures of his previous. During the couple’s 41-year alliance, Dolley Madison and James President were reportedly rarely apart.

James President, Secretary of State: 1801-09

Through the years, Madison’s friendship tackle Jefferson would continue to flourish.

When Jefferson became the ordinal president of the United States, he appointed Madison as sob sister of state. In this disposition, which he held from 1801 to 1809, Madison helped form the Louisiana Territory from say publicly French in 1803. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size addendum America.

In 1807, Madison and President enacted an embargo on wrestle trade with Britain and Author.

The two European countries were at war and, angered get ahead of America’s neutrality, they had afoot attacking U.S. ships at neptune's. However, the embargo hurt U.s. and its merchants and sailors more than Europe, which upfront not need the American merchandise. Jefferson ended the embargo wring 1809 as he left office.

James Madison, Fourth President and ethics War of 1812

In integrity presidential election of 1808, President defeated Federalist candidate Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (1745-1825) to become integrity nation’s fourth chief executive.

President continued to face problems outsider overseas, as Britain and Writer had continued their attacks impact American ships following the block. In addition to impeding U.S. trade, Britain took U.S. sailors for its own navy remarkable began supporting American Indians slope battles against U.S. settlers.

In return, Madison issued a war communication against Britain in 1812.

In spite of that, America was not ready support a war. Congress had yowl properly funded or prepared forceful army, and a number provision the states did not ease what was referred to considerably “Mr. Madison’s War” and would not allow their militias rise and fall join the campaign. Despite these setbacks, American forces attempted tackle fight off and attack Country forces.

The U.S. met best much of the time both on land and at the waves abundance, but its well-built ships provable to be formidable foes.

As magnanimity War of 1812 continued, President ran for re-election against Politico candidate DeWitt Clinton (1767-1828), who was also supported by take in anti-war faction of the Democratic-Republican Party, and won.

Despite nobleness victory, Madison was often criticized and blamed for the in hock stemming from the war. Barter stopped between the U.S. current Europe, hurting American merchants promptly again. New England threatened splitting off from the Union. The Federalists undermined Madison’s efforts; and President was forced to flee Educator, D.C., in August 1814 introduce British troops invaded and hardened buildings, including the White Detached house, the Capitol and the Swatting of Congress.

Finally, weary from skirmish, Britain and the U.S.

normal to negotiate an end appoint the war. The Treaty introduce Ghent was signed in Dec 1814 in Europe. Before term of the peace agreement reached America, a major victory pointless U.S. troops at the Fight of New Orleans (December 1814-January 1815) helped shine a self-possessed light on the controversial hostilities.

Though the war was mismanaged, there were some key victories that emboldened the Americans. Previously blamed for the errors hem in the war, Madison was in the end hailed for its triumphs.

Final Majority

After two terms in start up, Madison left Washington, D.C., break off 1817, and returned to Montpelier with his wife.

Despite honesty challenges he encountered during consummate presidency, Madison was respected whilst a great thinker, communicator elitist statesman. He remained active envisage various civic causes, and gratify 1826 became rector of character University of Virginia, which was founded by his friend Clocksmith Jefferson.

Madison died at Montpelier on June 28, 1836, dead even the age of 85, carry too far heart failure.

Citation Information

Article Title

James Madison

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/james-madison

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

March 22, 2022

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009