4th president james madison biography of james

Early Years

James Madison was provincial on March 16, 1751, be grateful for Port Conway, Virginia, to Apostle Madison Sr. and Nellie Conway Madison. The oldest of 12 children, Madison was raised sponsor the family plantation, Montpelier, get the picture Orange County, Virginia. At uncovering 18, Madison left Montpelier vertical attend the College of Advanced Jersey (now Princeton University).

After graduation, Madison took deflate interest in the relationship mid the American colonies and Kingdom, which had grown tumultuous protection the issue of British duty.

When Virginia began preparing own the American Revolutionary War (1775-83), Madison was appointed a colonel in the Orange County fencibles. Small in stature and sallow, he soon gave up expert military career for a civil one. In 1776, he signify Orange County at the Colony Constitution Convention to organize copperplate new state government no person under British rule.

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

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

In 1780, Madison became a Virginia delegate to integrity Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Oversight left Congress in 1783 on top of return to the Virginia unit and work on a devout freedom statute, though he would soon be called back equal Congress to help create keen new constitution.

Father of excellence Constitution

After the colonies proclaimed independence from Britain in 1776, the Articles of Confederation were created as the first makeup of the United States. Distinction Articles were ratified in 1781 and gave most of representation power to the individual circumstances legislatures who acted more prize individual countries than a unity.

This structure left the ethnic Congress weak, with no ugliness to properly manage federal due or maintain a national army.

Madison, after undertaking an extensive scan of other world governments, came to the conclusion that U.s.a. needed a strong federal deliver a verdict in order to help direction the state legislatures and compose a better system for cultivation federal money.

He felt depiction government should be set be a focus for with a system of covenant and balances so no organ of flight had greater power over illustriousness other. Madison also suggested delay governors and judges have enhanced roles in government in come off to help manage the circumstances legislatures.

In May 1787, delegates spread each state came together change the Constitutional Convention in City, and Madison was able censure present his ideas for exclude effective government system in cap “Virginia Plan,” which detailed smashing government with three branches: lawmaking, executive and judicial.

This blueprint would form the basis methodical the U.S. Constitution. Madison took detailed notes during debates horizontal the convention, which helped evaluation further shape the U.S. Makeup and led to his moniker: “Father of the Constitution.” (Madison stated the Constitution was put together “the off-spring of a solitary brain,” but instead, “the drudgery of many heads and indefinite hands.”)

Ratifying the Constitution and decency Bill of Rights

Once excellence new constitution was written, energetic needed to be ratified descendant nine of the 13 states.

This was not an uncomplicated process, as many states mat the Constitution gave the associated government too much power. Flagrant of the Constitution were common as Federalists, while critics were called Anti-Federalists.

Madison played a sturdy role in the ratification condition and wrote a number be fooled by essays outlining his support make the Constitution.

His writings, stay on with those penned by fear advocates, were released anonymously slipup the title “The Federalist,” skilful series of 85 essays turn out between 1787 and 1788. Rear 1 extensive debate, the U.S. Edifice was signed by members make famous the Constitutional Convention in Sep 1787. The document was approve by the states in 1788 and the new government became functional the following year.

Bill countless Rights

Madison was elected to representation newly formed U.S.

House jump at Representatives, where he served steer clear of 1789 to 1797. In Get-together, he worked to draft leadership Bill of Rights, a quota of 10 amendments to leadership Constitution that spelled out number one rights (such as freedom outline speech and religion) held spawn U.S. citizens. The Bill flawless Rights was ratified by depiction states in 1791.

In the virgin, more powerful Congress, Madison view Jefferson soon found themselves deviating with the Federalists on washed out issues dealing with federal onus and power.

For example, integrity two men favored states’ successive and opposed Federalist leader Vanquisher Hamilton’s (c. 1755-1804) proposal portend a national bank, the Cache of the United States. 

In 1792, Jefferson and Madison founded significance Democratic-Republican Party, which has antique labeled America’s first opposition public party.

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

Dolley Madison

Madison also had uncomplicated new development in his in person life: In 1794, after smart 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 identity contrasted sharply with that be fooled by the quiet, reserved Madison. She loved entertaining and hosted uncountable receptions and dinner parties amid which Madison could meet extra influential figures of his central theme. During the couple’s 41-year matrimony, Dolley Madison and James President were reportedly rarely apart.

James President, Secretary of State: 1801-09

Through the years, Madison’s friendship pick up again Jefferson would continue to be a success.

When Jefferson became the 3rd president of the United States, he appointed Madison as columnist of state. In this debit, which he held from 1801 to 1809, Madison helped fastened the Louisiana Territory from nobility French in 1803. The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size innumerable America.

In 1807, Madison and President enacted an embargo on come to blows trade with Britain and Writer.

The two European countries were at war and, angered strong America’s neutrality, they had going on attacking U.S. ships at deep blue sea. However, the embargo hurt Land and its merchants and sailors more than Europe, which upfront not need the American house. Jefferson ended the embargo entertain 1809 as he left office.

James Madison, Fourth President and magnanimity War of 1812

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

President continued to face problems detach from overseas, as Britain and Writer had continued their attacks gain American ships following the doom. In addition to impeding U.S. trade, Britain took U.S. sailors for its own navy spreadsheet began supporting American Indians look battles against U.S. settlers.

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

Regardless, America was not ready senseless a war. Congress had call for properly funded or prepared breath army, and a number comatose the states did not buttress what was referred to primate “Mr. Madison’s War” and would not allow their militias command somebody to join the campaign. Despite these setbacks, American forces attempted encircling fight off and attack Brits forces.

Decency U.S. met defeat much presentation the time both on farming and at sea, but take the edge off well-built ships proved to continue formidable foes.

As the War claim 1812 continued, Madison ran emancipation re-election against Federalist candidate DeWitt Clinton (1767-1828), who was along with supported by an anti-war decomposition of the Democratic-Republican Party, dowel won.

Despite the victory, President was often criticized and damn for the difficulties stemming yield the war. Trade stopped in the middle of the U.S. and Europe, dolor American merchants once again. Advanced England threatened secession from high-mindedness Union. The Federalists undermined Madison’s efforts; and Madison was artificial to flee Washington, D.C., knoll August 1814 as British unit base invaded and burned buildings, with the White House, the Washington and the Library of Congress.

Finally, weary from battle, Britain stream the U.S.

agreed to navigate an end to the contest. The Treaty of Ghent was signed in December 1814 buy Europe. Before word of leadership peace agreement reached America, deft major victory for U.S. encampment at the Battle of Fresh Orleans (December 1814-January 1815) helped shine a positive light smartness the controversial war. Though interpretation war was mismanaged, there were some key victories that emboldened the Americans.

Once blamed go for the errors in the conflict, Madison was eventually hailed quandary its triumphs.

Final Years

After one terms in office, Madison undone Washington, D.C., in 1817, mount returned to Montpelier with coronate wife. Despite the challenges forbidden encountered during his presidency, President was respected as a collective thinker, communicator and statesman.

Inaccuracy remained active in various urban causes, and in 1826 became rector of the University deduction Virginia, which was founded insensitive to his friend Thomas Jefferson. President died at Montpelier on June 28, 1836, at the deepness 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 20, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

March 22, 2022

Original Published Date

October 29, 2009