James Madison was born in Orange County, Virginia and attended Princeton (then called the College of New Jersey. Madison studied history and government and was well-read in law. He participated in the framing of the Constitution in 1776, served in the Continental Congress, and was a leader in the Virginia Assembly.
Madison was a major contributor to the Constitution, assisting Alexander Hamilton and John Fay. Many years later when he was referred to as the "Father of the Constitution", he argued that the document was not "the offspring of a single brain," but "the work of many heads and many hands. This is widely regarded as a selfless move on the part of James Madison.
Madison was elected president in 1808 and one of the first things he did was prohibit trade with both Britain and France. Soon, Congress authorized trade with both of them and if either would accept America's views of neutral right, to forbid trade with the other nation.
Napoleon pretended to comply with this order but would later declare war into what would soon be the War of 1812. The young nation of the U.S.A. was not ready to fight and its forces took a beating. The British entered Washington and set fire to the White House and the Capitol building. But after a few notable victories, America won.
Madison retired to his home in Montpelier and after his death in 1836, he stated, "The advice nearest to my heart and deepest in my convictions is that the Union of the States be cherished and perpetuated."
Fun Facts:
- James Madison was 5' 4" and weighed 100 pounds.
- He never had a job outside of politics ever.
- Madison and George Washington are the only presidents who signed the Constitution.
James Madison:
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