Father of the Constitution

James Madison was born on March 16, 1751, in King George County,Virginia. He graduated from Princeton University at the age of 20 in 1771. He served in the Virginia Constitutional Convention in 1776. In 1780, Madison served as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress. Madison served as the chief recorder at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He is regarded as the “Father of the Constitution" for his ambitious Virginia Plan, which proposed that representation in both houses of Congress should be proportionate to a state's population. Later in 1787, Madison teamed with Alexander Hamilton (and to a small extent, John Jay) to write the Federalist Papers, a series of persuasive essays designed to convince the states to ratify the Constitution. Written under the pen name “Publius,” the Federalist Papers is considered one of the most important documents in American history.

The Democratic Party

In 1789, Madison was elected to the House of Representatives, where he helped draft the Bill of Rights and fought against passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts. Madison married Dolley Payne Todd in 1794. He helped found the Democratic Party and was chosen as Jefferson’s secretary of state in 1801. As a leader of the Democrats, Madison believed that power should be invested in the states rather than a central government, and that the nation's economy should ultimately be powered by agriculture. In contrast to the Federalists, Madison believed in forging diplomatic and economic relationships with France rather than England.

Presidency and War of 1812

Madison was elected as America’s fourth president in 1808. George Clinton was appointed vice president but died in office in 1812. Madison’s first term was plagued by tensions with Great Britain, and his foreign policy was widely criticized. Despite the problems that characterized his first term, Madison was reelected in 1812 for a second term. Elbridge Gerry was appointed vice president, but he too died in office in 1814. During Madison’s second term, he guided the nation through The War of 1812 with Great Britain, which many called the second American Revolution. Unfortunately, the peace treaty signed between the two countries ultimately settled few of the issues between the countries.

Later Years

Following his second term, Madison left politics and retired to his home in Virginia, Monticello. He died in 1836 at the age of 85.

 

Famous Quote

"If men were angels, no government would be necessary." – James Madison

Discussion Questions

1. Why is James Madison called the “Father of the Constitution”?
2. What role did Madison play in writing the Federalist Papers, and why were they important?
3. How did Madison’s beliefs differ from those of the Federalists?
4. What were the main causes and results of the War of 1812 during Madison’s presidency?

Glossary

• Constitutional Convention: A meeting in 1787 to create the U.S. Constitution.
• Virginia Plan: A proposal for representation in Congress based on state population.
• Federalist Papers: Essays promoting the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
• Alien and Sedition Acts: Laws passed in 1798 that restricted free speech and immigrants’ rights.
• Montpelier: James Madison’s Virginia estate where he retired.

Five Interesting Facts

• James Madison was the shortest U.S. president at 5 feet 4 inches tall.
• He wrote more than one-third of the Federalist Papers.
• Madison was the last Founding Father to die.
• His wife, Dolley Madison, saved the famous portrait of George Washington during the British attack on Washington, D.C.
• Madison was a key advocate for the Bill of Rights.

Timeline of James Madison's Life

1. 1751 – Born in King George County, Virginia.
2. 1771 – Graduated from Princeton University.
3. 1776 – Served in Virginia Constitutional Convention.
4. 1780 – Delegate to Second Continental Congress.
5. 1787 – Played major role in Constitutional Convention.
6. 1787 – Helped write Federalist Papers.
7. 1789 – Elected to House of Representatives; helped draft Bill of Rights.
8. 1794 – Married Dolley Payne Todd.
9. 1801 – Appointed Secretary of State under Jefferson.
10. 1808 – Elected fourth U.S. president.
11. 1812 – Reelected president; War of 1812 begins.
12. 1814 – British burn Washington, D.C.
13. 1815 – War of 1812 ends.
14. 1817 – Retired to Montpelier.
15. 1836 – Died at age 85.

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