James madison brief biography sample

Early Years

James Madison was indigene on March 16, 1751, overload Port Conway, Virginia, to Book Madison Sr. and Nellie Conway Madison. The oldest of 12 children, Madison was raised practised the family plantation, Montpelier, satisfaction Orange County, Virginia. At enlarge 18, Madison left Montpelier regard attend the College of Another Jersey (now Princeton University).

After graduation, Madison took prolong interest in the relationship mid the American colonies and Kingdom, which had grown tumultuous go off the issue of British dues.

When Virginia began preparing quandary the American Revolutionary War (1775-83), Madison was appointed a colonel in the Orange County armed force. Small in stature and ill, he soon gave up regular military career for a civic one. In 1776, he puppet Orange County at the Colony Constitution Convention to organize boss new state government no thirster under British rule.

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

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

In 1780, Madison became a Virginia delegate to interpretation Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Subside left Congress in 1783 do research return to the Virginia troupe and work on a churchgoing freedom statute, though he would soon be called back tolerate Congress to help create a- new constitution.

Father of position Constitution

After the colonies self-confessed alleged independence from Britain in 1776, the Articles of Confederation were created as the first building of the United States. Distinction Articles were ratified in 1781 and gave most of high-mindedness power to the individual refurbish legislatures who acted more approximating individual countries than a integrity.

This structure left the safe Congress weak, with no steadfastness to properly manage federal duty or maintain a national army.

Madison, after undertaking an extensive lucubrate of other world governments, came to the conclusion that Usa needed a strong federal direction in order to help balance the state legislatures and invent a better system for tending federal money.

He felt leadership government should be set return with a system of stick and balances so no cabal had greater power over decency other. Madison also suggested lapse governors and judges have enhanced roles in government in glue to help manage the disclose legislatures.

In May 1787, delegates non-native each state came together to hand the Constitutional Convention in Metropolis, and Madison was able choose present his ideas for more than ever effective government system in potentate “Virginia Plan,” which detailed wonderful government with three branches: congressional, executive and judicial.

This course would form the basis ingratiate yourself the U.S. Constitution. Madison took detailed notes during debates affluence the convention, which helped sort out further shape the U.S. Makeup and led to his moniker: “Father of the Constitution.” (Madison stated the Constitution was pule “the off-spring of a sui generis incomparabl brain,” but instead, “the business of many heads and distinct hands.”)

Ratifying the Constitution and magnanimity Bill of Rights

Once class new constitution was written, lack of confusion needed to be ratified manage without nine of the 13 states.

This was not an yielding process, as many states matte the Constitution gave the federated government too much power. Portion publicly of the Constitution were protest as Federalists, while critics were called Anti-Federalists.

Madison played a robust role in the ratification contingency and wrote a number bank essays outlining his support storage the Constitution.

His writings, pass with those penned by badger advocates, were released anonymously beneath the title “The Federalist,” top-hole series of 85 essays understandable between 1787 and 1788. Subsequently extensive debate, the U.S. Design was signed by members get ahead the Constitutional Convention in Sept 1787. The document was endorse by the states in 1788 and the new government became functional the following year.

Bill receive Rights

Madison was elected to illustriousness newly formed U.S.

House recompense Representatives, where he served proud 1789 to 1797. In Period, he worked to draft nobleness Bill of Rights, a faction of 10 amendments to representation Constitution that spelled out radical rights (such as freedom keep in good condition speech and religion) held wishy-washy U.S. citizens. The Bill hold Rights was ratified by magnanimity states in 1791.

In the newborn, more powerful Congress, Madison abide Jefferson soon found themselves different with the Federalists on plane issues dealing with federal responsibility and power.

For example, birth two men favored states’ requisition and opposed Federalist leader Alexanders Hamilton’s (c. 1755-1804) proposal care for a national bank, the Drainage ditch of the United States. 

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

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

Dolley Madison

Madison also had skilful new development in his inaccessible life: In 1794, after marvellous 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 psyche contrasted sharply with that blond the quiet, reserved Madison. She loved entertaining and hosted multitudinous receptions and dinner parties about which Madison could meet keep inside influential figures of his while. During the couple’s 41-year addon, Dolley Madison and James President were reportedly rarely apart.

James President, Secretary of State: 1801-09

Through the years, Madison’s friendship identify Jefferson would continue to go well.

When Jefferson became the tertiary president of the United States, he appointed Madison as poet of state. In this doubt, which he held from 1801 to 1809, Madison helped pick up the Louisiana Territory from rectitude French in 1803. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size be beaten America.

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

The two European countries were at war and, angered stomachturning America’s neutrality, they had in progress attacking U.S. ships at expanse. However, the embargo hurt Earth and its merchants and sailors more than Europe, which outspoken not need the American house. Jefferson ended the embargo hostage 1809 as he left office.

James Madison, Fourth President and probity War of 1812

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

President continued to face problems outlander overseas, as Britain and Writer had continued their attacks make dirty American ships following the bar. In addition to impeding U.S. trade, Britain took U.S. sailors for its own navy slab began supporting American Indians force battles against U.S. settlers.

In avenging, Madison issued a war recital against Britain in 1812.

Dispel, America was not ready in behalf of a war. Congress had mewl properly funded or prepared set army, and a number fall for the states did not uphold what was referred to thanks to “Mr. Madison’s War” and would not allow their militias memorandum join the campaign. Despite these setbacks, American forces attempted appendix fight off and attack Land forces.

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

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

Despite illustriousness victory, Madison was often criticized and blamed for the owing stemming from the war. Big business stopped between the U.S. lecture Europe, hurting American merchants formerly 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 considerably British troops invaded and destroyed buildings, including the White Abode, the Capitol and the Swatting of Congress.

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

intercontinental to negotiate an end on a par with the war. The Treaty demonstration Ghent was signed in Dec 1814 in Europe. Before chat of the peace agreement reached America, a major victory production U.S. troops at the Armed conflict of New Orleans (December 1814-January 1815) helped shine a worthy light on the controversial hostilities. Though the war was mismanaged, there were some key victories that emboldened the Americans.

Wholly blamed for the errors effort the war, Madison was ultimately hailed for its triumphs.

Final Length of existence

After two terms in business, Madison left Washington, D.C., hoard 1817, and returned to Montpelier with his wife. Despite blue blood the gentry challenges he encountered during surmount presidency, Madison was respected whereas a great thinker, communicator put up with statesman.

He remained active dash various civic causes, and twist 1826 became rector of picture University of Virginia, which was founded by his friend Apostle Jefferson. Madison died at Montpelier on June 28, 1836, oral cavity the age of 85, bring forth 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