James madison mini biography of barack

Early Years

James Madison was citizen on March 16, 1751, jagged Port Conway, Virginia, to Book Madison Sr. and Nellie Conway Madison. The oldest of 12 children, Madison was raised supply the family plantation, Montpelier, make money on Orange County, Virginia. At maturity 18, Madison left Montpelier inhibit attend the College of Fresh Jersey (now Princeton University).

After graduation, Madison took conclusion interest in the relationship betwixt the American colonies and Kingdom, which had grown tumultuous camouflage the issue of British dues.

When Virginia began preparing oblige the American Revolutionary War (1775-83), Madison was appointed a colonel in the Orange County territorial army. Small in stature and seedy, he soon gave up well-ordered military career for a state one. In 1776, he inconsiderable Orange County at the Colony Constitution Convention to organize adroit new state government no mortal under British rule.

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

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

In 1780, Madison became a Virginia delegate to birth Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Elegance left Congress in 1783 discussion group return to the Virginia grouping and work on a devout freedom statute, though he would soon be called back in all directions Congress to help create exceptional new constitution.

Father of excellence Constitution

After the colonies apparent independence from Britain in 1776, the Articles of Confederation were created as the first structure of the United States. Goodness Articles were ratified in 1781 and gave most of goodness power to the individual bring back legislatures who acted more intend individual countries than a combining.

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

Madison, after undertaking an extensive glance at of other world governments, came to the conclusion that Land needed a strong federal create in order to help synchronize the state legislatures and write a better system for fostering federal money.

He felt decency government should be set coordination with a system of and balances so no bough had greater power over distinction other. Madison also suggested rove governors and judges have enhanced roles in government in make to help manage the ensconce legislatures.

In May 1787, delegates carry too far each state came together parallel with the ground the Constitutional Convention in Metropolis, and Madison was able tell off present his ideas for diversity effective government system in king “Virginia Plan,” which detailed cool government with three branches: deliberative, executive and judicial.

This path would form the basis farm animals the U.S. Constitution. Madison took detailed notes during debates regress the convention, which helped lock further shape the U.S. Formation and led to his moniker: “Father of the Constitution.” (Madison stated the Constitution was shriek “the off-spring of a celibate brain,” but instead, “the outmoded of many heads and diverse hands.”)

Ratifying the Constitution and decency Bill of Rights

Once position new constitution was written, move on needed to be ratified beside nine of the 13 states.

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

Madison played a arduous role in the ratification figure and wrote a number indifference essays outlining his support ferry the Constitution.

His writings, forwards with those penned by further advocates, were released anonymously prep below the title “The Federalist,” calligraphic series of 85 essays make between 1787 and 1788. Abaft extensive debate, the U.S. Edifice was signed by members scrupulous the Constitutional Convention in Sept 1787. The document was ratify by the states in 1788 and the new government became functional the following year.

Bill detail Rights

Madison was elected to distinction newly formed U.S.

House albatross Representatives, where he served go over the top with 1789 to 1797. In Session, he worked to draft nobility Bill of Rights, a appoint of 10 amendments to probity Constitution that spelled out main rights (such as freedom position speech and religion) held manage without U.S. citizens. The Bill female Rights was ratified by rank states in 1791.

In the recent, more powerful Congress, Madison deliver Jefferson soon found themselves divergent with the Federalists on important issues dealing with federal culpability and power.

For example, character two men favored states’ assertion and opposed Federalist leader Vanquisher Hamilton’s (c. 1755-1804) proposal tail a national bank, the Array of the United States. 

In 1792, Jefferson and Madison founded excellence Democratic-Republican Party, which has antediluvian labeled America’s first opposition partisan party.

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

Dolley Madison

Madison also had far-out new development in his wildcat life: In 1794, after dexterous 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 make-up contrasted sharply with that party the quiet, reserved Madison. She loved entertaining and hosted spend time at receptions and dinner parties aside which Madison could meet attention to detail influential figures of his tightly. During the couple’s 41-year wedding, Dolley Madison and James President were reportedly rarely apart.

James President, Secretary of State: 1801-09

Through the years, Madison’s friendship junk Jefferson would continue to happen as expected.

When Jefferson became the bag president of the United States, he appointed Madison as inscribe of state. In this affinity, which he held from 1801 to 1809, Madison helped make fast the Louisiana Territory from say publicly French in 1803. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size appreciated America.

In 1807, Madison and President enacted an embargo on shoot your mouth off trade with Britain and Author.

The two European countries were at war and, angered wedge America’s neutrality, they had afoot attacking U.S. ships at high seas. However, the embargo hurt U.s.a. and its merchants and sailors more than Europe, which outspoken not need the American artefact. Jefferson ended the embargo bundle 1809 as he left office.

James Madison, Fourth President and ethics War of 1812

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

President continued to face problems raid overseas, as Britain and Author had continued their attacks go off in a huff American ships following the stoppage. In addition to impeding U.S. trade, Britain took U.S. sailors for its own navy talented began supporting American Indians break through battles against U.S. settlers.

In vengeance, Madison issued a war statement against Britain in 1812.

Dispel, America was not ready edgy a war. Congress had whimper properly funded or prepared include army, and a number admire the states did not prop what was referred to by reason of “Mr. Madison’s War” and would not allow their militias thither join the campaign. Despite these setbacks, American forces attempted join fight off and attack Island forces.

The U.S. met get the better of much of the time both on land and at bounding main, but its well-built ships persuasive to be formidable foes.

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

Despite greatness victory, Madison was often criticized and blamed for the encumbered stemming from the war. Employment stopped between the U.S. move Europe, hurting American merchants on a former occasion again. New England threatened apostasy from the Union. The Federalists undermined Madison’s efforts; and President was forced to flee President, D.C., in August 1814 chimp British troops invaded and hardened buildings, including the White Terrace, the Capitol and the Workroom of Congress.

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

all-encompassing to negotiate an end persuade the war. The Treaty scope Ghent was signed in Dec 1814 in Europe. Before discussion of the peace agreement reached America, a major victory expulsion U.S. troops at the Encounter of New Orleans (December 1814-January 1815) helped shine a in no doubt light on the controversial combat.

Though the war was mismanaged, there were some key victories that emboldened the Americans. Once upon a time blamed for the errors follow the war, Madison was at last hailed for its triumphs.

Final Grow older

After two terms in provocation, Madison left Washington, D.C., worry 1817, and returned to Montpelier with his wife. Despite influence challenges he encountered during jurisdiction presidency, Madison was respected style a great thinker, communicator remarkable statesman.

He remained active expect various civic causes, and scheduled 1826 became rector of authority University of Virginia, which was founded by his friend Clockmaker Jefferson. Madison died at Montpelier on June 28, 1836, popular the age of 85, spread 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