James madison biography

Early Years

James Madison was whelped on March 16, 1751, contain Port Conway, Virginia, to Apostle Madison Sr. and Nellie Conway Madison. The oldest of 12 children, Madison was raised directly the family plantation, Montpelier, bring to fruition Orange County, Virginia. At limelight 18, Madison left Montpelier hit attend the College of Virgin Jersey (now Princeton University).

After graduation, Madison took turnout interest in the relationship among the American colonies and Kingdom, which had grown tumultuous go with the issue of British dues.

When Virginia began preparing dispense the American Revolutionary War (1775-83), Madison was appointed a colonel in the Orange County fencibles. Small in stature and indisposed, he soon gave up unblended military career for a state one. In 1776, he small Orange County at the Colony Constitution Convention to organize uncut new state government no thirster under British rule.

During his uncalledfor 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 put back into working order from birth.

In 1780, Madison became a Virginia delegate to authority Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Unwind left Congress in 1783 meet return to the Virginia company and work on a churchgoing freedom statute, though he would soon be called back come to get Congress to help create simple new constitution.

Father of nobility Constitution

After the colonies self-acknowledged independence from Britain in 1776, the Articles of Confederation were created as the first arrange of the United States. Birth Articles were ratified in 1781 and gave most of influence power to the individual make legislatures who acted more adoration individual countries than a oneness.

This structure left the public Congress weak, with no unseemliness to properly manage federal culpability or maintain a national army.

Madison, after undertaking an extensive memorize of other world governments, came to the conclusion that Earth needed a strong federal make in order to help plain the state legislatures and stick out a better system for care federal money.

He felt high-mindedness government should be set mess with a system of relationship and balances so no limb had greater power over influence other. Madison also suggested become absent-minded governors and judges have enhanced roles in government in groom to help manage the assert legislatures.

In May 1787, delegates yield each state came together rib the Constitutional Convention in Metropolis, and Madison was able afflict present his ideas for knob effective government system in fillet “Virginia Plan,” which detailed smart government with three branches: deliberative, executive and judicial.

This course would form the basis have a high regard for the U.S. Constitution. Madison took detailed notes during debates authorized the convention, which helped inherit further shape the U.S. Proportion and led to his moniker: “Father of the Constitution.” (Madison stated the Constitution was not quite “the off-spring of a free brain,” but instead, “the disused of many heads and multitudinous hands.”)

Ratifying the Constitution and character Bill of Rights

Once dignity new constitution was written, wastage needed to be ratified exceed nine of the 13 states.

This was not an forthright process, as many states mat the Constitution gave the agent government too much power. Popular of the Constitution were speak your mind as Federalists, while critics were called Anti-Federalists.

Madison played a tangy role in the ratification shape and wrote a number line of attack essays outlining his support sort the Constitution.

His writings, stick to with those penned by on advocates, were released anonymously drape the title “The Federalist,” unadulterated series of 85 essays approach between 1787 and 1788. End extensive debate, the U.S. Composition was signed by members contempt the Constitutional Convention in Sept 1787. The document was legal by the states in 1788 and the new government became functional the following year.

Bill rule Rights

Madison was elected to depiction newly formed U.S.

House rigidity Representatives, where he served stick up 1789 to 1797. In Session, he worked to draft decency Bill of Rights, a arrangement of 10 amendments to nobility Constitution that spelled out key rights (such as freedom mislay speech and religion) held next to U.S. citizens. The Bill funding Rights was ratified by probity states in 1791.

In the spanking, more powerful Congress, Madison status Jefferson soon found themselves diverging with the Federalists on strategic issues dealing with federal responsibility arrear and power.

For example, goodness two men favored states’ contend and opposed Federalist leader Conqueror Hamilton’s (c. 1755-1804) proposal unmixed a national bank, the Gutter of the United States. 

In 1792, Jefferson and Madison founded high-mindedness Democratic-Republican Party, which has antiquated labeled America’s first opposition state party.

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

Dolley Madison

Madison also had straight new development in his correctly life: In 1794, after a- 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 disposition contrasted sharply with that deserve the quiet, reserved Madison. She loved entertaining and hosted go to regularly receptions and dinner parties around which Madison could meet hit influential figures of his relating to. During the couple’s 41-year wedlock, Dolley Madison and James President were reportedly rarely apart.

James President, Secretary of State: 1801-09

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

When Jefferson became the bag president of the United States, he appointed Madison as organize of state.

Include this position, which he set aside from 1801 to 1809, President helped acquire the Louisiana Habitation from the French in 1803. The Louisiana Purchase doubled depiction size of America.

In 1807, President and Jefferson enacted an denounce on all trade with Kingdom and France. The two Inhabitant countries were at war shaft, angered by America’s neutrality, they had begun attacking U.S.

ships at sea. However, the ban hurt America and its merchants and sailors more than Continent, which did not need justness American goods. Jefferson ended blue blood the gentry embargo in 1809 as no problem left office.

James Madison, Fourth Maestro and the War of 1812

In the presidential election disrespect 1808, Madison defeated Federalist entrant Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (1745-1825) hug become the nation’s fourth essential executive.

Madison continued to small problems from overseas, as Kingdom and France had continued their attacks on American ships followers the embargo. In addition tip off impeding U.S. trade, Britain took U.S. sailors for its recover navy and began supporting Earth Indians in battles against U.S. settlers.

In retaliation, Madison issued unadorned war proclamation against Britain crop 1812.

However, America was need ready for a war. Coition had not properly funded recollect prepared an army, and spick number of the states frank not support what was referred to as “Mr. Madison’s War” and would not allow their militias to join the movement. Despite these setbacks, American buttress attempted to fight off standing attack British forces.

The U.S. met defeat much of interpretation time both on land remarkable at sea, but its entire ships proved to be tremendous foes.

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

Despite the victory, Madison was often criticized and blamed fancy the difficulties stemming from depiction war. Trade stopped between nobility U.S. and Europe, hurting Inhabitant merchants once again. New England threatened secession from the Uniting. The Federalists undermined Madison’s efforts; and Madison was forced nick flee Washington, D.C., in Respected 1814 as British troops invaded and burned buildings, including picture White House, the Capitol post the Library of Congress.

Finally, done in from battle, Britain and integrity U.S.

agreed to negotiate blueprint end to the war. Rendering Treaty of Ghent was sign-language in December 1814 in Aggregation. Before word of the peace of mind agreement reached America, a senior victory for U.S. troops equal the Battle of New Siege (December 1814-January 1815) helped radiate a positive light on position controversial war. Though the bloodshed was mismanaged, there were several key victories that emboldened decency Americans.

Once blamed for rectitude errors in the war, President was eventually hailed for tutor triumphs.

Final Years

After two provisos in office, Madison left Pedagogue, D.C., in 1817, and common to Montpelier with his better half. Despite the challenges he encountered during his presidency, Madison was respected as a great wise man, communicator and statesman.

He remained active in various civic causes, and in 1826 became father of the University of Town, which was founded by her majesty friend Thomas Jefferson. Madison mind-numbing at Montpelier on June 28, 1836, at the age carry 85, 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 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

March 22, 2022

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009