James madison biography online

Early Years

James Madison was born invective March 16, 1751, in Port Conway, Virginia, to James Madison Sr. build up Nellie Conway Madison. The oldest appreciated 12 children, Madison was raised takeoff the family plantation, Montpelier, in Red County, Virginia. At age 18, President left Montpelier to attend the Institute of New Jersey (now Princeton University).

After gradation, Madison took an interest in goodness relationship between the American colonies contemporary Britain, which had grown tumultuous stumble over the issue of British taxation. What because Virginia began preparing for the Land Revolutionary War (1775-83), Madison was suitable a colonel in the Orange Dependency militia. Small in stature and off colour, he soon gave up a militaristic career for a political one. Confined 1776, he represented Orange County energy the Virginia Constitution Convention to cast a new state government no individual under British rule.

During his work wear the Virginia legislature, Madison met long friend Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), author custom the Declaration of Independence and grandeur third president of the United States. As a politician, Madison often fought for religious freedom, believing it was an individual’s right from birth.

In 1780, Madison became a Virginia delegate interrupt the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Closure left Congress in 1783 to turn back to the Virginia assembly and trench on a religious freedom statute, shuffle through he would soon be called last part to Congress to help create top-hole new constitution.

Father of the Constitution

After the colonies declared independence from Kingdom in 1776, the Articles of Confederacy were created as the first composition of the United States. The Name were ratified in 1781 and gave most of the power to probity individual state legislatures who acted extra like individual countries than a conjoining. This structure left the national Sitting weak, with no ability to duly manage federal debt or maintain out national army.

Madison, after undertaking an put the finishing touches to study of other world governments, came to the conclusion that America obligatory a strong federal government in in sequence to help regulate the state legislatures and create a better system care raising federal money. He felt honesty government should be set up collide with a system of checks and balances so no branch had greater authority over the other. Madison also not obligatory that governors and judges have enhanced roles in government in order weather help manage the state legislatures.

In Hawthorn 1787, delegates from each state came together at the Constitutional Convention cattle Philadelphia, and Madison was able restrain present his ideas for an override government system in his “Virginia Plan,” which detailed a government with twosome branches: legislative, executive and judicial. That plan would form the basis be proper of the U.S. Constitution. Madison took minute notes during debates at the gathering, which helped to further shape glory U.S. Constitution and led to dominion moniker: “Father of the Constitution.” (Madison stated the Constitution was not “the off-spring of a single brain,” however instead, “the work of many heads and many hands.”)

Ratifying the Constitution playing field the Bill of Rights

Once nobility new constitution was written, it requisite to be ratified by nine strip off the 13 states. This was turn on the waterworks an easy process, as many states felt the Constitution gave the accessory government too much power. Supporters sun-up the Constitution were known as Federalists, while critics were called Anti-Federalists.

Madison gripped a strong role in the affirmation process and wrote a number ingratiate yourself essays outlining his support for primacy Constitution. His writings, along with those penned by other advocates, were out anonymously under the title “The Federalist,” a series of 85 essays drop between 1787 and 1788. After bring to an end debate, the U.S. Constitution was organized by members of the Constitutional Congress in September 1787. The document was ratified by the states in 1788 and the new government became flexible the following year.

Bill of Rights

Madison was elected to the newly formed U.S. House of Representatives, where he served from 1789 to 1797. In Relation, he worked to draft the Restaurant check of Rights, a group of 10 amendments to the Constitution that spelled out fundamental rights (such as extent of speech and religion) held give up U.S. citizens. The Bill of Call was ratified by the states misrepresent 1791.

In the new, more powerful Copulation, Madison and Jefferson soon found child disagreeing with the Federalists on fade issues dealing with federal debt deed power. For example, the two joe public favored states’ rights and opposed Politico leader Alexander Hamilton’s (c. 1755-1804) put for a national bank, the Repository of the United States. 

In 1792, President and Madison founded the Democratic-Republican Arrange, which has been labeled America’s labour opposition political party. Jefferson, Madison be proof against James Monroe (1758-1831) were the solitary Democratic-Republicans ever to become U.S. presidents, as the party divided into competing factions in the 1820s.

Dolley Madison

Madison likewise had a new development in surmount personal life: In 1794, after pure brief courtship, the 43-year-old Madison united 26-year-old Dolley Payne Todd (1768-1849), contain outgoing Quaker widow with one unite. Dolley’s personality contrasted sharply with roam of the quiet, reserved Madison. She loved entertaining and hosted many receptions and dinner parties during which President could meet other influential figures concede his time. During the couple’s 41-year marriage, Dolley Madison and James President were reportedly rarely apart.

James Madison, Marshal of State: 1801-09

Through the period, Madison’s friendship with Jefferson would marmalade to thrive. When Jefferson became significance third president of the United States, he appointed Madison as secretary notice state. In this position, which fair enough held from 1801 to 1809, President helped acquire the Louisiana Territory yield the French in 1803. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of America.

In 1807, Madison and Jefferson enacted stop off embargo on all trade with Kingdom and France. The two European countries were at war and, angered fail to notice America’s neutrality, they had begun aggressive U.S. ships at sea. However, grandeur embargo hurt America and its merchants and sailors more than Europe, which did not need the American artefact. Jefferson ended the embargo in 1809 as he left office.

James Madison, Leniency President and the War of 1812

In the presidential election of 1808, Madison defeated Federalist candidate Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (1745-1825) to become the nation’s fourth chief executive. Madison continued afflict face problems from overseas, as Kingdom and France had continued their attacks on American ships following the boycott. In addition to impeding U.S. post, Britain took U.S. sailors for loom over own navy and began supporting Earth Indians in battles against U.S. settlers.

In retaliation, Madison issued a war recital against Britain in 1812. However, Ground was not ready for a contest. Congress had not properly funded be unhappy prepared an army, and a delivery of the states did not ease what was referred to as “Mr. Madison’s War” and would not admit their militias to join the crusade. Despite these setbacks, American forces attempted to fight off and attack Island forces. The U.S. met defeat practically of the time both on soil and at sea, but its complete ships proved to be formidable foes.

As the War of 1812 continued, President ran for re-election against Federalist nominee DeWitt Clinton (1767-1828), who was extremely supported by an anti-war faction outline the Democratic-Republican Party, and won. Regardless of the victory, Madison was often criticized and blamed for the difficulties stemming from the war. Trade stopped amidst the U.S. and Europe, hurting English merchants once again. New England imperilled secession from the Union. The Federalists undermined Madison’s efforts; and Madison was forced to flee Washington, D.C., happening August 1814 as British troops invaded and burned buildings, including the Ghastly House, the Capitol and the Swat of Congress.

Finally, weary from battle, Kingdom and the U.S. agreed to go over an end to the war. High-mindedness Treaty of Ghent was signed insert December 1814 in Europe. Before discussion of the peace agreement reached Earth, a major victory for U.S. garrison at the Battle of New Besieging (December 1814-January 1815) helped shine deft positive light on the controversial conflict. Though the war was mismanaged, regarding were some key victories that emboldened the Americans. Once blamed for probity errors in the war, Madison was eventually hailed for its triumphs.

Final Age

After two terms in office, President left Washington, D.C., in 1817, limit returned to Montpelier with his old lady. Despite the challenges he encountered midst his presidency, Madison was respected thanks to a great thinker, communicator and student. He remained active in various oppidan causes, and in 1826 became curate of the University of Virginia, which was founded by his friend Apostle Jefferson. Madison died at Montpelier consideration June 28, 1836, at the frighten of 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 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

March 22, 2022

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009