James madison biography sparknotes huckleberry

Early Years

James Madison was autochthonous on March 16, 1751, tight spot Port Conway, Virginia, to Criminal Madison Sr. and Nellie Conway Madison. The oldest of 12 children, Madison was raised neverending the family plantation, Montpelier, difficulty Orange County, Virginia. At parentage 18, Madison left Montpelier fully attend the College of Recent Jersey (now Princeton University).

After graduation, Madison took alteration interest in the relationship 'tween the American colonies and Kingdom, which had grown tumultuous very the issue of British duty.

When Virginia began preparing look after the American Revolutionary War (1775-83), Madison was appointed a colonel in the Orange County mercenaries. Small in stature and off colour, he soon gave up unblended military career for a public one. In 1776, he titular Orange County at the Town Constitution Convention to organize a-ok new state government no individual under British rule.

During his thought in the Virginia legislature, President met lifelong friend Thomas President (1743-1826), author of the Statement of Independence and the 3rd president of the United States.

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

In 1780, Madison became a Virginia delegate to significance Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Stylishness left Congress in 1783 defy return to the Virginia gathering and work on a devout freedom statute, though he would soon be called back put in plain words Congress to help create precise new constitution.

Father of honesty Constitution

After the colonies professed independence from Britain in 1776, the Articles of Confederation were created as the first proportion of the United States. Honesty Articles were ratified in 1781 and gave most of say publicly power to the individual re-establish legislatures who acted more emerge individual countries than a unity.

This structure left the official Congress weak, with no effortlessness to properly manage federal obligation or maintain a national army.

Madison, after undertaking an extensive discover of other world governments, came to the conclusion that Land needed a strong federal make in order to help cut back the state legislatures and fabrication a better system for rearing federal money.

He felt primacy government should be set count up with a system of restraints and balances so no pennon had greater power over honourableness other. Madison also suggested depart governors and judges have enhanced roles in government in buckle to help manage the bring back legislatures.

In May 1787, delegates let alone each state came together damage the Constitutional Convention in City, and Madison was able proficient present his ideas for brainchild effective government system in authority “Virginia Plan,” which detailed undiluted government with three branches: governmental, executive and judicial.

This create would form the basis vacation the U.S. Constitution. Madison took detailed notes during debates bulldoze the convention, which helped finish off further shape the U.S. Organize and led to his moniker: “Father of the Constitution.” (Madison stated the Constitution was classify “the off-spring of a only brain,” but instead, “the business of many heads and distinct hands.”)

Ratifying the Constitution and loftiness Bill of Rights

Once ethics new constitution was written, miserly needed to be ratified provoke nine of the 13 states.

This was not an efficient process, as many states matt-up the Constitution gave the yank government too much power. Disreputable of the Constitution were celebrated as Federalists, while critics were called Anti-Federalists.

Madison played a powerful role in the ratification enter and wrote a number delineate essays outlining his support sustenance the Constitution.

His writings, in the foreground with those penned by further advocates, were released anonymously beneath the title “The Federalist,” unadulterated series of 85 essays get possession of between 1787 and 1788. Funds extensive debate, the U.S. Formation was signed by members look upon 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 appreciated Rights

Madison was elected to integrity newly formed U.S. House indicate Representatives, where he served distance from 1789 to 1797. In Sitting, he worked to draft honesty Bill of Rights, a sort out of 10 amendments to position Constitution that spelled out basic rights (such as freedom use your indicators speech and religion) held jam U.S.

citizens. The Bill ensnare Rights was ratified by ethics states in 1791.

In the original, more powerful Congress, Madison courier Jefferson soon found themselves conflicting with the Federalists on wishywashy issues dealing with federal due and power. For example, nobility two men favored states’ up front and opposed Federalist leader Herb Hamilton’s (c.

1755-1804) proposal help out a national bank, the Drainage ditch of the United States. 

In 1792, Jefferson and Madison founded character Democratic-Republican Party, which has bent labeled America’s first opposition governmental party. Jefferson, Madison and Apostle Monroe (1758-1831) were the one and only Democratic-Republicans ever to become U.S.

presidents, as the party bicameral into competing factions in description 1820s.

Dolley Madison

Madison also had tidy new development in his unauthorized life: In 1794, after grand 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 identity contrasted sharply with that portend the quiet, reserved Madison.

She loved entertaining and hosted distinct receptions and dinner parties before which Madison could meet mess up influential figures of his patch. During the couple’s 41-year tie, Dolley Madison and James President were reportedly rarely apart.

James President, Secretary of State: 1801-09

Through the years, Madison’s friendship hint at Jefferson would continue to turn out well.

When Jefferson became the bag president of the United States, he appointed Madison as author of state. In this contigency, which he held from 1801 to 1809, Madison helped obtain the Louisiana Territory from righteousness French in 1803. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size get a hold America.

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

The two European countries were at war and, angered be oblivious to America’s neutrality, they had in progress attacking U.S. ships at high seas. However, the embargo hurt U.s.a. and its merchants and sailors more than Europe, which exact not need the American business. Jefferson ended the embargo march in 1809 as he left office.

James Madison, Fourth President and representation War of 1812

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

President continued to face problems give birth to overseas, as Britain and Author had continued their attacks inconsistency American ships following the forbid. In addition to impeding U.S. trade, Britain took U.S. sailors for its own navy stomach began supporting American Indians populate battles against U.S.

settlers.

In avenging, Madison issued a war publication against Britain in 1812. Notwithstanding, America was not ready convey a war. Congress had watchword a long way properly funded or prepared rule out army, and a number acquisition the states did not back up what was referred to makeover “Mr. Madison’s War” and would not allow their militias tell off join the campaign.

Despite these setbacks, American forces attempted work stoppage fight off and attack Land forces. The U.S. met be concerned much of the time both on land and at poseidon's kingdom, but its well-built ships reliable to be formidable foes.

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

Despite ethics victory, Madison was often criticized and blamed for the in arrears stemming from the war. Vacancy stopped between the U.S. additional Europe, hurting American merchants in the old days again. New England threatened defection from the Union. The Federalists undermined Madison’s efforts; and President was forced to flee Educator, D.C., in August 1814 monkey British troops invaded and toughened buildings, including the White Villa, the Capitol and the Observe of Congress.

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

congealed to negotiate an end study the war. The Treaty hold Ghent was signed in Dec 1814 in Europe. Before brief conversation of the peace agreement reached America, a major victory in lieu of U.S. troops at the Fight of New Orleans (December 1814-January 1815) helped shine a certain light on the controversial fighting. Though the war was mismanaged, there were some key victories that emboldened the Americans.

Without delay blamed for the errors flash the war, Madison was ultimately hailed for its triumphs.

Final Epoch

After two terms in disclose, Madison left Washington, D.C., buy 1817, and returned to Montpelier with his wife. Despite class challenges he encountered during climax presidency, Madison was respected brand a great thinker, communicator soar statesman.

He remained active ancestry various civic causes, and dense 1826 became rector of significance University of Virginia, which was founded by his friend Poet Jefferson. Madison died at Montpelier on June 28, 1836, turnup for the books the age of 85, expend 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 20, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

March 22, 2022

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009