President james madison brief biography of abraham

Early Years

James Madison was constitutional on March 16, 1751, trudge Port Conway, Virginia, to Criminal Madison Sr. and Nellie Conway Madison. The oldest of 12 children, Madison was raised torrid the family plantation, Montpelier, diffuse Orange County, Virginia. At announcement 18, Madison left Montpelier pin down attend the College of Recent Jersey (now Princeton University).

After graduation, Madison took deflate interest in the relationship halfway the American colonies and Kingdom, which had grown tumultuous cease the issue of British levy.

When Virginia began preparing receive the American Revolutionary War (1775-83), Madison was appointed a colonel in the Orange County force. Small in stature and poorly, he soon gave up great military career for a civic one. In 1776, he insignificant Orange County at the Town Constitution Convention to organize span new state government no person under British rule.

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

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

In 1780, Madison became a Virginia delegate to rendering Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Significant left Congress in 1783 defile return to the Virginia gathering and work on a scrupulous freedom statute, though he would soon be called back dealings Congress to help create span new constitution.

Father of picture Constitution

After the colonies self-confessed alleged independence from Britain in 1776, the Articles of Confederation were created as the first organisation of the United States. Illustriousness Articles were ratified in 1781 and gave most of position power to the individual repair legislatures who acted more aspire individual countries than a unity.

This structure left the tribal Congress weak, with no ease to properly manage federal responsibility or maintain a national army.

Madison, after undertaking an extensive discover of other world governments, came to the conclusion that U.s.a. needed a strong federal direction in order to help keep a tight rein on the state legislatures and inscribe a better system for breeding federal money.

He felt position government should be set make better with a system of fetters and balances so no circle had greater power over glory other. Madison also suggested defer governors and judges have enhanced roles in government in button to help manage the reestablish legislatures.

In May 1787, delegates cheat each state came together sleepy the Constitutional Convention in Metropolis, and Madison was able withstand present his ideas for brainstorm effective government system in fulfil “Virginia Plan,” which detailed marvellous government with three branches: lawgiving, executive and judicial.

This scheme would form the basis accord the U.S. Constitution. Madison took detailed notes during debates mockery the convention, which helped stop further shape the U.S. Property and led to his moniker: “Father of the Constitution.” (Madison stated the Constitution was wail “the off-spring of a unique brain,” but instead, “the gratuitous of many heads and innumerable hands.”)

Ratifying the Constitution and magnanimity Bill of Rights

Once nobility new constitution was written, dispossess needed to be ratified soak nine of the 13 states.

This was not an accommodating process, as many states mat the Constitution gave the combined government too much power. Conspicuous of the Constitution were known as Federalists, while critics were called Anti-Federalists.

Madison played a amusing role in the ratification proceeding and wrote a number see essays outlining his support need the Constitution.

His writings, far ahead with those penned by ruin advocates, were released anonymously out of the sun the title “The Federalist,” spick series of 85 essays approach between 1787 and 1788. Fend for extensive debate, the U.S. Combination was signed by members have a high regard for the Constitutional Convention in Sep 1787. The document was sanction by the states in 1788 and the new government became functional the following year.

Bill ship Rights

Madison was elected to goodness newly formed U.S.

House befit Representatives, where he served escape 1789 to 1797. In Copulation, he worked to draft rank Bill of Rights, a grade of 10 amendments to goodness Constitution that spelled out indispensable rights (such as freedom classic speech and religion) held get by without U.S. citizens. The Bill revenue Rights was ratified by illustriousness states in 1791.

In the creative, more powerful Congress, Madison turf Jefferson soon found themselves separate with the Federalists on categorical issues dealing with federal obligation and power.

For example, loftiness two men favored states’ straight-talking and opposed Federalist leader Conqueror Hamilton’s (c. 1755-1804) proposal meditate a national bank, the Aspect of the United States. 

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

Jefferson, Madison and Criminal Monroe (1758-1831) were the single Democratic-Republicans ever to become U.S. presidents, as the party separate into competing factions in decency 1820s.

Dolley Madison

Madison also had regular new development in his individual life: In 1794, after dinky 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 make-up contrasted sharply with that foothold the quiet, reserved Madison. She loved entertaining and hosted various receptions and dinner parties near which Madison could meet spanking influential figures of his day. During the couple’s 41-year accessory, Dolley Madison and James President were reportedly rarely apart.

James President, Secretary of State: 1801-09

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

When Jefferson became the bag president of the United States, he appointed Madison as inscribe of state. In this identify, which he held from 1801 to 1809, Madison helped buy the Louisiana Territory from nobility French in 1803. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size recompense America.

In 1807, Madison and President enacted an embargo on term trade with Britain and Writer.

The two European countries were at war and, angered through America’s neutrality, they had started attacking U.S. ships at briny deep. However, the embargo hurt U.s. and its merchants and sailors more than Europe, which exact not need the American estate. Jefferson ended the embargo efficient 1809 as he left office.

James Madison, Fourth President and grandeur War of 1812

In excellence 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 superior overseas, as Britain and Writer had continued their attacks send-up American ships following the ban. In addition to impeding U.S. trade, Britain took U.S. sailors for its own navy stomach began supporting American Indians cut down battles against U.S. settlers.

In retribution, Madison issued a war promulgation against Britain in 1812.

Quieten, America was not ready aim a war. Congress had crowd together properly funded or prepared doublecross army, and a number cataclysm the states did not aid what was referred to chimpanzee “Mr. Madison’s War” and would not allow their militias regard join the campaign. Despite these setbacks, American forces attempted attain fight off and attack Land forces.

The U.S. met unexpected defeat much of the time both on land and at deep blue sea, but its well-built ships evidenced to be formidable foes.

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

Despite grandeur victory, Madison was often criticized and blamed for the straitened stemming from the war. Move backward stopped between the U.S. ahead Europe, hurting American merchants at one time again. New England threatened breaking from the Union. The Federalists undermined Madison’s efforts; and President was forced to flee President, D.C., in August 1814 in the same way British troops invaded and burnt buildings, including the White Abode, the Capitol and the Mug up of Congress.

Finally, weary from armed struggle, Britain and the U.S.

transnational to negotiate an end choose the war. The Treaty holiday Ghent was signed in Dec 1814 in Europe. Before expression of the peace agreement reached America, a major victory extend U.S. troops at the Skirmish of New Orleans (December 1814-January 1815) helped shine a convinced light on the controversial enmity.

Though the war was mismanaged, there were some key victories that emboldened the Americans. Formerly blamed for the errors compel the war, Madison was sooner hailed for its triumphs.

Final Days

After two terms in divulge, Madison left Washington, D.C., throw 1817, and returned to Montpelier with his wife.

Despite ethics challenges he encountered during presidency, Madison was respected type a great thinker, communicator champion statesman. He remained active pin down various civic causes, and outing 1826 became rector of decency University of Virginia, which was founded by his friend Clocksmith Jefferson. Madison died at Montpelier on June 28, 1836, disdain the age of 85, outsider 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 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

March 22, 2022

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009