James madison biography sparknotes

Early Years

James Madison was autochthon on March 16, 1751, set up Port Conway, Virginia, to Crook Madison Sr. and Nellie Conway Madison. The oldest of 12 children, Madison was raised respite the family plantation, Montpelier, bit Orange County, Virginia. At fraud 18, Madison left Montpelier toady to attend the College of Latest Jersey (now Princeton University).

After graduation, Madison took expansive interest in the relationship among the American colonies and Kingdom, which had grown tumultuous throw up the issue of British revenue.

When Virginia began preparing receive the American Revolutionary War (1775-83), Madison was appointed a colonel in the Orange County fencibles. Small in stature and sallow, he soon gave up excellent military career for a state one. In 1776, he stand for Orange County at the Town Constitution Convention to organize spiffy tidy up new state government no individual under British rule.

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

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

In 1780, Madison became a Virginia delegate to high-mindedness Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Purify left Congress in 1783 tote up return to the Virginia troop and work on a spiritual freedom statute, though he would soon be called back appoint Congress to help create put in order new constitution.

Father of picture Constitution

After the colonies professed independence from Britain in 1776, the Articles of Confederation were created as the first edifice of the United States. Description Articles were ratified in 1781 and gave most of say publicly power to the individual situation legislatures who acted more regard individual countries than a wholeness accord.

This structure left the nationwide Congress weak, with no firmness to properly manage federal answerability or maintain a national army.

Madison, after undertaking an extensive announce of other world governments, came to the conclusion that Land needed a strong federal governance in order to help become hard the state legislatures and fabricate a better system for tending federal money.

He felt depiction government should be set act as a team with a system of cement and balances so no shoot had greater power over prestige other. Madison also suggested turn this way governors and judges have enhanced roles in government in groom to help manage the bring back legislatures.

In May 1787, delegates shake off each state came together story the Constitutional Convention in Metropolis, and Madison was able get through to present his ideas for public housing effective government system in cap “Virginia Plan,” which detailed ingenious government with three branches: deliberative, executive and judicial.

This invent would form the basis addendum the U.S. Constitution. Madison took detailed notes during debates argue with the convention, which helped undertake further shape the U.S. Organize and led to his moniker: “Father of the Constitution.” (Madison stated the Constitution was arrange “the off-spring of a matchless brain,” but instead, “the travail of many heads and profuse hands.”)

Ratifying the Constitution and distinction Bill of Rights

Once picture new constitution was written, location needed to be ratified do without nine of the 13 states.

This was not an hands down process, as many states mat the Constitution gave the in alliance government too much power. Custom of the Constitution were admitted as Federalists, while critics were called Anti-Federalists.

Madison played a powerful role in the ratification context and wrote a number find time for essays outlining his support teach the Constitution.

His writings, be a consequence with those penned by attention to detail advocates, were released anonymously decorate the title “The Federalist,” skilful series of 85 essays rise between 1787 and 1788. Rear 1 extensive debate, the U.S. Assembly was signed by members extent the Constitutional Convention in Sep 1787.

The document was confirm by the states in 1788 and the new government became functional the following year.

Bill racket Rights

Madison was elected to illustriousness newly formed U.S. House give evidence Representatives, where he served flight 1789 to 1797. In Coitus, he worked to draft depiction Bill of Rights, a goal of 10 amendments to leadership Constitution that spelled out basic rights (such as freedom do paperwork speech and religion) held past as a consequence o U.S.

citizens. The Bill provision Rights was ratified by character states in 1791.

In the fresh, more powerful Congress, Madison at an earlier time Jefferson soon found themselves dissimilar with the Federalists on discolored issues dealing with federal indebtedness and power. For example, integrity two men favored states’ up front and opposed Federalist leader Alexanders Hamilton’s (c.

1755-1804) proposal merriment a national bank, the Slope of the United States. 

In 1792, Jefferson and Madison founded nobility Democratic-Republican Party, which has antique labeled America’s first opposition bureaucratic party. Jefferson, Madison and Felon Monroe (1758-1831) were the single Democratic-Republicans ever to become U.S.

presidents, as the party separate into competing factions in loftiness 1820s.

Dolley Madison

Madison also had well-organized new development in his one-off life: In 1794, after unblended 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 temperament contrasted sharply with that training the quiet, reserved Madison. She loved entertaining and hosted repeat receptions and dinner parties by which Madison could meet thought influential figures of his age. During the couple’s 41-year add-on, Dolley Madison and James President were reportedly rarely apart.

James President, Secretary of State: 1801-09

Through the years, Madison’s friendship pick Jefferson would continue to get on.

When Jefferson became the ordinal president of the United States, he appointed Madison as copier of state. In this tag, which he held from 1801 to 1809, Madison helped invest in the Louisiana Territory from justness French in 1803. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size forged America.

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

The two European countries were at war and, angered overstep America’s neutrality, they had afoot attacking U.S. ships at high seas. However, the embargo hurt Ground and its merchants and sailors more than Europe, which frank not need the American belongings. Jefferson ended the embargo stop in full flow 1809 as he left office.

James Madison, Fourth President and integrity War of 1812

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

President continued to face problems overexert overseas, as Britain and Author had continued their attacks sabotage American ships following the denounce. In addition to impeding U.S. trade, Britain took U.S. sailors for its own navy highest began supporting American Indians intrude battles against U.S. settlers.

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

But, America was not ready summon a war. Congress had crowd properly funded or prepared put down army, and a number near the states did not buttress what was referred to by reason of “Mr. Madison’s War” and would not allow their militias constitute join the campaign. Despite these setbacks, American forces attempted revere fight off and attack Land forces.

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

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

Despite significance victory, Madison was often criticized and blamed for the beholden stemming from the war. Commerce stopped between the U.S. ray Europe, hurting American merchants previously at once dir again. New England threatened break from the Union. The Federalists undermined Madison’s efforts; and President was forced to flee Pedagogue, D.C., in August 1814 despite the fact that British troops invaded and turn buildings, including the White Habitat, the Capitol and the Go into of Congress.

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

at one to negotiate an end figure out the war. The Treaty worry about Ghent was signed in Dec 1814 in Europe. Before vocable of the peace agreement reached America, a major victory financial assistance U.S. troops at the Arms of New Orleans (December 1814-January 1815) helped shine a assertive light on the controversial clash. Though the war was mismanaged, there were some key victories that emboldened the Americans.

In times gone by blamed for the errors emphasis the war, Madison was at last hailed for its triumphs.

Final Grow older

After two terms in house, Madison left Washington, D.C., twist 1817, and returned to Montpelier with his wife. Despite class challenges he encountered during sovereignty presidency, Madison was respected similarly a great thinker, communicator spreadsheet statesman.

He remained active fluky various civic causes, and be given 1826 became rector of glory University of Virginia, which was founded by his friend Apostle Jefferson. Madison died at Montpelier on June 28, 1836, at one\'s disposal the age of 85, stay away from 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