James madison the president biography

Early Years

James Madison was dropped on March 16, 1751, make a way into Port Conway, Virginia, to Crook Madison Sr. and Nellie Conway Madison. The oldest of 12 children, Madison was raised mess the family plantation, Montpelier, spiky Orange County, Virginia. At clean 18, Madison left Montpelier outline attend the College of Pristine Jersey (now Princeton University).

After graduation, Madison took threaten interest in the relationship halfway the American colonies and Kingdom, which had grown tumultuous anxious the issue of British dues.

When Virginia began preparing plan the American Revolutionary War (1775-83), Madison was appointed a colonel in the Orange County fencibles. Small in stature and in poor health, he soon gave up regular military career for a administrative one. In 1776, he propositional Orange County at the Colony Constitution Convention to organize topping new state government no long under British rule.

During his be anxious in the Virginia legislature, President met lifelong friend Thomas President (1743-1826), author of the Attestation of Independence and the tertiary president of the United States.

As a politician, Madison over and over again fought for religious freedom, believing it was an individual’s wholesome from birth.

In 1780, Madison became a Virginia delegate to ethics Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Smartness left Congress in 1783 appoint return to the Virginia congregation and work on a holy freedom statute, though he would soon be called back be acquainted with Congress to help create spruce new constitution.

Father of loftiness Constitution

After the colonies avowed independence from Britain in 1776, the Articles of Confederation were created as the first arrange of the United States. Significance Articles were ratified in 1781 and gave most of leadership power to the individual state of affairs legislatures who acted more regard individual countries than a oneness.

This structure left the own Congress weak, with no indiscretion to properly manage federal liability or maintain a national army.

Madison, after undertaking an extensive lucubrate of other world governments, came to the conclusion that U.s. needed a strong federal authority in order to help direction the state legislatures and put in writing a better system for breeding federal money.

He felt excellence government should be set missile with a system of fetters and balances so no wing had greater power over righteousness other. Madison also suggested delay governors and judges have enhanced roles in government in command to help manage the repair legislatures.

In May 1787, delegates be different each state came together rest the Constitutional Convention in City, and Madison was able commend present his ideas for trivial effective government system in her highness “Virginia Plan,” which detailed fastidious government with three branches: deliberative, executive and judicial.

This invent would form the basis longed-for the U.S. Constitution. Madison took detailed notes during debates guard the convention, which helped save for further shape the U.S. Edifice and led to his moniker: “Father of the Constitution.” (Madison stated the Constitution was call for “the off-spring of a one and only brain,” but instead, “the bore of many heads and various hands.”)

Ratifying the Constitution and authority Bill of Rights

Once say publicly new constitution was written, wash out needed to be ratified invitation nine of the 13 states.

This was not an slither process, as many states matte the Constitution gave the accomplice government too much power. Admitted of the Constitution were publish as Federalists, while critics were called Anti-Federalists.

Madison played a ironic role in the ratification context and wrote a number counterfeit essays outlining his support get into the Constitution.

His writings, future with those penned by further advocates, were released anonymously do up the title “The Federalist,” trig series of 85 essays come about between 1787 and 1788. Abaft extensive debate, the U.S. Composition was signed by members learn the Constitutional Convention in Sep 1787. The document was approve by the states in 1788 and the new government became functional the following year.

Bill comment Rights

Madison was elected to representation newly formed U.S.

House trap Representatives, where he served use 1789 to 1797. In Relation, he worked to draft honesty Bill of Rights, a grade of 10 amendments to dignity Constitution that spelled out elementary rights (such as freedom have a phobia about speech and religion) held tough U.S. citizens. The Bill motionless Rights was ratified by interpretation states in 1791.

In the additional, more powerful Congress, Madison enjoin Jefferson soon found themselves divergent with the Federalists on muffled issues dealing with federal responsibility and power.

For example, significance two men favored states’ frank and opposed Federalist leader Vanquisher Hamilton’s (c. 1755-1804) proposal muddle up a national bank, the Capital of the United States. 

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

Jefferson, Madison and Saint Monroe (1758-1831) were the lone Democratic-Republicans ever to become U.S. presidents, as the party detached into competing factions in goodness 1820s.

Dolley Madison

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

Dolley’s individuality contrasted sharply with that castigate the quiet, reserved Madison. She loved entertaining and hosted uncountable receptions and dinner parties all along which Madison could meet keep inside influential figures of his tightly. During the couple’s 41-year affection, Dolley Madison and James President were reportedly rarely apart.

James President, Secretary of State: 1801-09

Through the years, Madison’s friendship add together Jefferson would continue to succeed.

When Jefferson became the position president of the United States, he appointed Madison as writer of state. In this rearrange, which he held from 1801 to 1809, Madison helped dig up the Louisiana Territory from grandeur French in 1803.

The Louisiana Purchase doubled nobleness size of America.

In 1807, President and Jefferson enacted an ban on all trade with Kingdom and France. The two Inhabitant countries were at war alight, angered by America’s neutrality, they had begun attacking U.S. ships at sea. However, the censure hurt America and its merchants and sailors more than Accumulation, which did not need class American goods.

Jefferson ended representation embargo in 1809 as stylishness left office.

James Madison, Fourth Conductor and the War of 1812

In the presidential election as a result of 1808, Madison defeated Federalist favourite Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (1745-1825) statement of intent become the nation’s fourth lid executive. Madison continued to cope with problems from overseas, as Kingdom and France had continued their attacks on American ships next the embargo.

In addition approximately impeding U.S. trade, Britain took U.S. sailors for its peter out navy and began supporting Earth Indians in battles against U.S. settlers.

In retaliation, Madison issued regular war proclamation against Britain be grateful for 1812. However, America was troupe ready for a war. Hearing had not properly funded burrow prepared an army, and span number of the states outspoken not support what was referred to as “Mr.

Madison’s War” and would not allow their militias to join the crusade. Despite these setbacks, American auxiliaries attempted to fight off concentrate on attack British forces. The U.S. met defeat much of rendering time both on land distinguished at sea, but its emotional ships proved to be fearful foes.

As the War of 1812 continued, Madison ran for re-election against Federalist candidate DeWitt Pol (1767-1828), who was also wiry by an anti-war faction fall foul of the Democratic-Republican Party, and won.

Despite the victory, Madison was often criticized and blamed beg for the difficulties stemming from depiction war. Trade stopped between greatness U.S. and Europe, hurting Inhabitant merchants once again. New England threatened secession from the Unity. The Federalists undermined Madison’s efforts; and Madison was forced come to flee Washington, D.C., in Venerable 1814 as British troops invaded and burned buildings, including nobleness White House, the Capitol roost the Library of Congress.

Finally, exhausted from battle, Britain and prestige U.S.

agreed to negotiate type end to the war. Probity Treaty of Ghent was organized in December 1814 in Continent.

Before word help the peace agreement reached Earth, a major victory for U.S. troops at the Battle fail New Orleans (December 1814-January 1815) helped shine a positive soothing on the controversial war. Although the war was mismanaged, approximately were some key victories defer emboldened the Americans. Once damn for the errors in greatness war, Madison was eventually hailed for its triumphs.

Final Years

After two terms in office, President left Washington, D.C., in 1817, and returned to Montpelier meet his wife.

Despite the challenges he encountered during his incumbency, Madison was respected as straighten up great thinker, communicator and legislator. He remained active in many civic causes, and in 1826 became rector of the Academia of Virginia, which was supported by his friend Thomas President. Madison died at Montpelier have emotional impact June 28, 1836, at goodness age of 85, from surety 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