How Did James Madison Contribute To Government

CHILDHOOD

James Madison was born on March 16, 1751. He had seven siblings. Madison’s father, James Madison Sr., become rich from inheritance and by marrying Nelly Conway, the daughter of a Virginian tobacco merchant. Madison’s family moved from their farmhouse to their Montpelier mansion while he was a child. Madison suffered from stress-induced seizures as a child. He loved to read and learn. He became fluent in both Latin and Greek, learning from private tutors. Later, he was educated at the College of New Jersey, later called Princeton. He graduated in two years but stayed for another term to learn Hebrew and philosophy. In 1772, he learned law at Montpelier but did not like it.

REVOLUTION

In 1774, he became a member of the local Committee

His Virginia Plan, put forward by Edmund Randolph, the governor of Virginia, proposed a bicameral legislature with the lower house elected by the people, a president chosen by the legislature, and a judiciary with a Supreme Court. His notes, which are the best source of information available of the closed-door meetings, detailed the proceedings and his activist role in shaping the outcome. By September 1787, Madison had become the greatest advocate of the new constitution, eventually being called the "Father of the Constitution." Madison, along with fellow Federalists Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, published the Federalist Papers under the pseudonym "Publius." The papers are a series of essays in support of the Constitution. Madison wrote 29 out of 85 essays. He argued for a strong central government with checks and balances where any attempts at gaining power could be countered. He also advocated for religious freedom in the United

Britain constantly violated America’s neutrality at sea. Any measures he took were never good enough for his critics. New England became especially angry with Madison because of his embargo on Britain, which impoverished New England.
Some congressmen who wanted to end British rule in Canada and Spanish rule in West Florida, urged Madison to deal with Indian raids and rebellions in the Northwest supported by Britain. In June 1812, Madison sent Congress a letter regarding the spread of British power, as well as the economic threat Britain posed. Madison’s letter asked Congress to come up with a response. Later that month, the two houses of Congress voted to prepare for war, setting the stage for the War of 1812.

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