James Madison Facts & Worksheets

• After obtaining his degree in 1771, Madison pursued further studies in Hebrew and political philosophy under the guidance of John Witherspoon, who was then the President of Princeton University. The concepts Madison acquired at Princeton, namely those related to democracy and religious freedom, greatly impacted his political trajectory as he grew more dedicated to the American colonies' pursuit of independence from British governance.

Start of Political Career and Stance on Slavery

• Madison's remarkable political insight and strong advocacy for religious freedom led to his selection for the Continental Congress in 1780. His tenure in Congress from 1783 to 1786 marked a pivotal moment in his career. He championed the endorsement of a robust central authority, which was imperative given the ongoing Revolutionary War.
• Among the various occurrences in Madison's initial political trajectory, his participation in the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention in 1787 stands out as particularly significant. He implemented a pioneering system of governance in response to the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation. His 'Virginia Plan' catapulted him into the spotlight during the event and acted as the driving force behind the discussions.
• Madison's initial participation in politics acted as a catalyst for his subsequent achievements. His crucial involvement during the Constitutional Convention and his contributions throughout the Revolutionary War showcased his unwavering commitment to democracy and his visionary aspirations for the future of the United States. His support for a robust central government, a well-functioning constitution, and the protection of religious liberties propelled him to a position of influence in American politics.
• However, despite championing freedom and rights in his political work, Madison was an enslaver, which creates a complex picture of his stance towards slavery. He inherited around 100 enslaved people from his father, and they worked on his Montpelier plantation.
• Madison also argued for the continuation of the slave trade in the Convention in 1787, expressing concern that a sudden end to the trade would disrupt the economies of Southern states. However, he was also a proponent of the controversial "three-fifths" compromise that counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes, which indirectly acknowledged the enslaved population while reinforcing a system of racial inequality.
• Towards the end of his life, Madison served as the president of the American Colonization Society, an organisation that promoted the resettlement of freed African Americans to Africa. Despite advocating for resettlement, Madison did not emancipate his own enslaved people in his will.
• This contradiction between Madison's political philosophy and his personal actions reflects the complex relationship many Founding Fathers had with slavery, often wrestling with the contradiction between their beliefs in liberty and equality and their economic reliance on the institution of slavery.

Father of the Constitution

• The Constitutional Convention was convened in 1787 in reaction to the insufficient central authority that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The central authority prohibited the imposition of taxes, regulation of trade, and modification of the Articles of Confederation without the unanimous consent of all states. 
• Neither the federal judicial system nor the executive branch existed to interpret or enforce laws. These restrictions caused political and economic problems and highlighted the need for a more powerful national government, which is why the U.S. Constitution replaced them.
• As a representative of Virginia, Madison arrived equipped with his idea for the Virginia Plan, a new form of government. This concept called for a robust national government with three separate branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—that work together to prevent undue dominance. When the plan was adopted, the ineffective confederation model was essentially abolished, and the foundation for the current American government system was established.
• Madison made contributions outside of the convention as well. He was a prominent Federalist who worked closely with John Jay and Alexander Hamilton to create the collection of writings known as the Federalist Papers. 
• These papers provided lucid interpretations and arguments for the Constitution's provisions in an effort to uphold its values and secure adoption. Madison authored 29 essays on various subjects, such as the appropriate distribution of authority, the benefits of a large republic, and the dangers of factions. 

Key Ideas of the Federalist Papers

• Strong Central Government
  • The Federalist Papers argue in favour of a strong central government to maintain order and preserve the union. 
  • They express concern about the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and their ineffective federal government.
• Balancing Power through Federalism
  • The Papers advocate for a federal system where power is divided between the central and state governments, effectively balancing power and safeguarding against any potential abuse.
• Checks and balances
  • They suggest a system of checks and balances through the separation of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. 
  • This system prevents any one branch from gaining too much power.
• Large republic
  • The authors argue that a large republic would best protect individual freedoms and prevent a majority from trampling on the rights of the minority.
• Dangers of Factions
  • The Papers consider 'factions' or party groups as dangerous to the democratic process. 
  • A large republic would help control the effects of factions since it would be harder for any one group to gain dominant power.
• Proposed Constitution as a Solution
  • The Federalist Papers emphasise that the proposed Constitution provides the best solution for effectively governing the United States, arguing that it provides a fair and balanced approach to governance.
• The lack of a Bill of Rights in the original Constitution caused apprehension among anti-Federalists, who opposed the instrument due to their concerns about the possible excessive power of the new central government. In response to these critiques and in a strategic move to facilitate the Constitution's ratification, Madison pledged to add a Bill of Rights after the Constitution was enacted.
• A representative from Virginia at the time, James Madison, fulfilled his pledge at the First United States Congress in 1789. He put out a number of changes intended to protect people's rights from intrusion by the state. These originally proposed amendments underwent extensive revision and reduction to create the 10 amendments that make up the U.S. Bill of Rights.

Ten Amendments to the Bill of Rights

• First Amendment
  • Protects freedom of speech, religion, the press, and the right to a peaceful assembly
• Second Amendment
  • Protects the right to bear arms
• Third Amendment
  • Prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private homes without the owner's consent during peacetime
• Fourth Amendment
  • Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures and requires warrants to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause
• Fifth Amendment
  • Sets out rules for indictment by grand jury and eminent domain, protects the right to due process, and prohibits self-incrimination and double jeopardy
• Sixth Amendment
  • Protects the right to a fair and speedy public trial by jury, including the rights to be informed of the accusations, to confront the accuser, to obtain witnesses, and to retain counsel
• Seventh Amendment
  • Provides for the right to trial by jury in certain civil cases, according to common law
• Eighth Amendment
  • Prohibits excessive fines and excessive bail, as well as cruel and unusual punishment
• Ninth Amendment
  • Asserts the existence of unenumerated rights retained by the people
• Tenth Amendment
  • Limits the powers of the federal government to those delegated to it by the Constitution
• Originally intended to be additions to the main body of the Constitution, Madison's amendments were eventually added as an additional set of articles. Since then, these amendments have had a significant impact on how the United States defines fundamental political liberties and justice principles.