Early Life
James Madison was born in Port Conway, Virginia, on March 16, 1751. His parents were James Madison, Sr., and Eleanor Rose Conway. Madison lived most of his life at Montpelier, his family's plantation. He graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1771. He was a small man, weighing only about 100 pounds. As a man he still looked and sounded like a boy but his strength lied in his actions.
Political Career
In 1776 Madison was elected as a delegate to the Virginia state convention where he worked with Thomas Jefferson to write the state constitution. This was a set of laws that became the model for the United States Constitution. He is known as the “Father of the Constitution" for his role. In 1779 he was elected to the Continental Congress, where he served until the end of the American Revolution.
In 1784 Madison entered the Virginia legislature. He then helped bring about the U.S. Constitutional Convention. In 1787 the convention met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to create a system of government for the United States. Madison presented the Virginia Plan, which included his support of a strong central government. This government would include three branches: a legislature to make laws, an executive leader to govern the nation and a judicial made up of the courts. Elected representatives would serve in each branch for set terms. Madison’s ideas became the foundation of the United States government.
In 1789 Madison was elected to the new House of Representatives. There he helped pass the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. During his time in Congress Madison came to believe that the federal government should not have more power than the states. He shared that opinion with his friend Thomas Jefferson. Madison believed in the value of a strong government in which power was controlled because it was balanced among the branches.
In 1794 Madison married Dolley Payne Todd. They had no children together.
In 1801 President Jefferson made Madison secretary of state. They worked together to buy the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803.
Presidency
Madison became the fourth president of the United States in 1808. He was reelected in 1812. That year the United States entered the War of 1812 against Great Britain. The United States won some victories at sea but lost many land battles. In August 1814 the British invaded Washington, D.C., and burned the White House. When the war ended in 1814, there was no clear winner.
Retirement
Madison retired to Montpelier in 1817. He supported Jefferson in founding the University of Virginia. He also worked to end slavery. Madison died on June 28, 1836.
Bibliography
"Madison, James." Britannica Elementary Encyclopedia. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 23 Jan. 2013.
<http://school.eb.com/all/elementary/article?articleId=345493>.
James Madison was born in Port Conway, Virginia, on March 16, 1751. His parents were James Madison, Sr., and Eleanor Rose Conway. Madison lived most of his life at Montpelier, his family's plantation. He graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1771. He was a small man, weighing only about 100 pounds. As a man he still looked and sounded like a boy but his strength lied in his actions.
Political Career
In 1776 Madison was elected as a delegate to the Virginia state convention where he worked with Thomas Jefferson to write the state constitution. This was a set of laws that became the model for the United States Constitution. He is known as the “Father of the Constitution" for his role. In 1779 he was elected to the Continental Congress, where he served until the end of the American Revolution.
In 1784 Madison entered the Virginia legislature. He then helped bring about the U.S. Constitutional Convention. In 1787 the convention met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to create a system of government for the United States. Madison presented the Virginia Plan, which included his support of a strong central government. This government would include three branches: a legislature to make laws, an executive leader to govern the nation and a judicial made up of the courts. Elected representatives would serve in each branch for set terms. Madison’s ideas became the foundation of the United States government.
In 1789 Madison was elected to the new House of Representatives. There he helped pass the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. During his time in Congress Madison came to believe that the federal government should not have more power than the states. He shared that opinion with his friend Thomas Jefferson. Madison believed in the value of a strong government in which power was controlled because it was balanced among the branches.
In 1794 Madison married Dolley Payne Todd. They had no children together.
In 1801 President Jefferson made Madison secretary of state. They worked together to buy the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803.
Presidency
Madison became the fourth president of the United States in 1808. He was reelected in 1812. That year the United States entered the War of 1812 against Great Britain. The United States won some victories at sea but lost many land battles. In August 1814 the British invaded Washington, D.C., and burned the White House. When the war ended in 1814, there was no clear winner.
Retirement
Madison retired to Montpelier in 1817. He supported Jefferson in founding the University of Virginia. He also worked to end slavery. Madison died on June 28, 1836.
Bibliography
"Madison, James." Britannica Elementary Encyclopedia. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2013. Web. 23 Jan. 2013.
<http://school.eb.com/all/elementary/article?articleId=345493>.