James Madison's Accomplishments

James Madison, known as a small wizened man is known for his knowledge of many aspects. He excelled in government, and even had started the War of 1812. He was a writer of the Federalist Papers, and Bill of Rights, as well as other important documents leading to history even today. As a president, he sat through the burning of the White House, and as a Federalist fought many laws to make himself the great man he is today. Through pencil and a quill Madison was able to contribute to the history we have today.

James Madison grew up in the Colony of Virginia on a tobacco farm. He was one of twelve children, but most of his sibling died from disease. He too was a sickly child and liked to stay inside and read books. Madison was very intelligent

These would incorporate the bad side of human nature into the very delicate clockwork of what today is government. To accomplish this task, he blended the three branches of governmental power, this enabled each branch to guard against masses of power. It allowed the other branches to safeguard its own constitutional province or territory in its rank of government. Madison wanted the different branches of government to strictly check each other for power control. The two houses of Congress, the national, and state governments, were able to look at each other in the use of power, which guaranteed the diffusion of governmental power. This would help protect the people's rights and liberties (Jim

Some part of his decision may have been influenced by his 1794 marriage to a young widow named Dolley Payne Madison and his desire to enjoy a private life with her. It may have also had been due to the death of his brother Ambrose and the increasing responsibilities which came from having to care for his aging parents. When this time ran out, he stopped his party leadership, handed it down and quietly returned to Virginia. Madison could still not hide from national issues corrupting the government by simply retreating to his house in Montpelier, which was his family's Virginia plantation. Increasing hostility and anger to France from the presidency of John Adams's led to the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798. Madison's initial reaction to the alien bill was that it was literally like a monster. In December 1798 Jefferson asked him to draft the Virginia Resolutions, which proposed that all the states protest the so called “monster.” The states had to protest the break of their rights and liberties by the passage of the new Alien and Sedition Acts. Madison also criticized the enlargement of the federal powers that had taken place. The statement provided unity for the Republicans. Even though it was not very well received by the other state legislatures. In order to defend his own resolutions he had made, Madison was easily persuaded to stand for election to the Virginia