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James Madison (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836) was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father who served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817.
- Thomas Jefferson
- James Monroe
- Early Years
- Father of The Constitution
- Ratifying The Constitution and The Bill of Rights
- Bill of Rights
- Dolley Madison
- James Madison, Secretary of State: 1801-09
- James Madison, Fourth President and The War of 1812
- Final Years
James Madison was born on March 16, 1751, in Port Conway, Virginia, to James Madison Sr. and Nellie Conway Madison. The oldest of 12 children, Madison was raised on the family plantation, Montpelier, in Orange County, Virginia. At age 18, Madison left Montpelier to attend the College of New Jersey(now Princeton University). After graduation, Madiso...
After the colonies declared independence from Britain in 1776, the Articles of Confederationwere created as the first constitution of the United States. The Articles were ratified in 1781 and gave most of the power to the individual state legislatures who acted more like individual countries than a union. This structure left the national Congress w...
Once the new constitution was written, it needed to be ratified by nine of the 13 states. This was not an easy process, as many states felt the Constitution gave the federal government too much power. Supporters of the Constitution were known as Federalists, while critics were called Anti-Federalists. Madison played a strong role in the ratificatio...
Madison was elected to the newly formed U.S. House of Representatives, where he served from 1789 to 1797. In Congress, he worked to draft the Bill of Rights, a group of 10 amendments to the Constitution that spelled out fundamental rights (such as freedom of speech and religion) held by U.S. citizens. The Bill of Rights was ratified by the states i...
Madison also had a new development in his personal life: In 1794, after a brief courtship, the 43-year-old Madison married 26-year-old Dolley Payne Todd (1768-1849), an outgoing Quaker widow with one son. Dolley’s personality contrasted sharply with that of the quiet, reserved Madison. She loved entertaining and hosted many receptions and dinner pa...
Through the years, Madison’s friendship with Jefferson would continue to thrive. When Jefferson became the third president of the United States, he appointed Madison as secretary of state. In this position, which he held from 1801 to 1809, Madison helped acquire the Louisiana Territory from the French in 1803. The Louisiana Purchasedoubled the size...
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 to face problems from overseas, as Britain and France had continued their attacks on American ships following the embargo. In addition to impeding U.S. trade, Britain to...
After two terms in office, Madison left Washington, D.C., in 1817, and returned to Montpelier with his wife. Despite the challenges he encountered during his presidency, Madison was respected as a great thinker, communicator and statesman. He remained active in various civic causes, and in 1826 became rector of the University of Virginia, which was...
5 days ago · James Madison, fourth president of the United States (1809–17) and one of the Founding Fathers of his country. His Virginia Plan furnished the basic framework and guiding principles of the Constitution. He collaborated on the Federalist papers and sponsored the Bill of Rights.
Biography of James Madison, the 4th President of the United States and the “Father of the Constitution.” Learn about his life, achievements, and legacy as a leader in the ratification of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the War of 1812.
Apr 3, 2014 · Learn about the life and achievements of James Madison, the fourth U.S. president who wrote the Federalist Papers and sponsored the Bill of Rights. Find out how he supported a robust yet balanced federal government, initiated the War of 1812, and died on June 28, 1836 at Montpelier estate in Virginia.
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Learn about James Madison, the fourth president of the United States and the Father of the Constitution. Explore his life, education, political career, and role in the War of 1812.
Story. The Life of James Madison. 11 Minute Read. James Madison, Founding Father, architect of the Constitution, and fourth President of the United States, was born on March 16, 1751 at his mother’s home in Port Conway, Virginia, on the Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg.