James Madison

Franklins Final Public pronouncements urged ratification of the constitution and approve the inauguration of the new federal government under George Washington. Ben Franklin died in Philadelphia on April 17th, 1790. Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson was born at Shadwell in Albemarle County, Virginia, on April 13, 1743. He attended the College of William and Mary and read law with George Wythe. From the beginning of the struggle with Britain, Jefferson stood with the more advanced Patriots.

These three men contributed a great deal to the Constitution that we live under today and were highly respected by the other delegates. James Madison was born on March 16, 1751 ,in Port Conway, Virginia. He graduated from the College of New Jersey(later Princton) in 1771, where he was a diligent student of history and government. In 1780 Madison became the youngest member to join the Continental Congress. He played a major role in deliberations, advocating tarriffs as the means of raising revenue, and much more.

Madison attended the college of New Jersey, which is now Princeton. He urged greatly for independence and a stronger nation for the United States. He also became the fourth president of the United States. Madison, an American Statesmen had great knowledge of understanding government. In 1776, Madison was elected to the Virginia legislature and became a member of the Virginia Constitutional Committee.

James Madison, the 4th president of the United States, born March 16, 1751. Despite serving as President, eight years each as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, as secretary of state, his principal contribution to the founding of the United States was the acclaimed "Father of the Constitution." He played the leading role in authoring the U.S. Constitution, and was its leading defender and interpreter for 50 years. To the top degree, he combined scholarship, a keen intelligence, commitment to republican government, and a realistic understanding of politics in a way that allowed him again and again to move from an idea or a conception to a plan, a policy or a law. Madison's place among the Founding Fathers reveals the necessary qualities of his public career.

Madison's understanding of public affairs developed during the decade of colonial resistance to British measures, 1765-1775. Madison's skill led to his election in 1780 to the Continental Congress, where he served for nearly four years. In 1783, after ratification of the peace treaty and demobilization of the army, Madison ranked as a leading promoter of a stronger national government. For three years in the Virginia legislature, Madison worked to enact Jefferson's bill for religious freedom and other reform measures. He also continued to strengthen the national government by securing Virginia's support of it.

Having fathered the document, Madison worked hard to ensure its ratification. Along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, he published the Federalist Papers, a series of articles arguing for a strong central government subject to an extensive system of checks and balances. Elected to the House of Representatives in 1789, Madison served as Washington's chief supporter. In this capacity, he introduced the Bill of Rights, a constitutional guarantee of civil liberties, thereby fulfilling a promise to the Virginia Ratifying Convention of 1788. As Washington continued to move closer to Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton's Federalist vision of a strong central government that would promote commercial and financial interests over agrarian interests, Madison broke with Washington, joining Jefferson to form the opposition party, the Democratic-Republicans.

Since the King kept ignoring the colonists' complaints, the only choice left for the colonies was to rebel (Whitehouse.gov). As a result on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, was presented to King George III. This declaration asserted the United States’ commitment to freedom and also guaranteed basic rights for Americans. The documen... ... middle of paper ... ...tory. The Declaration of Independence is also important because it encouraged many revolutionary efforts throughout the world in later years, and contributed to American’s understanding of their values as a new nation.

The Continental Congress had been careful to give the states as much independence as possible and to specify the limited functions of the federal government. Many years passed before the states ratified the articles. Disagreements were made over boundary lines. Decisions were made by state courts, on differing tariff laws, and trade restrictions between the states. The small states wanted equal representation with the large states in Congress, and the large states were afraid they would have to pay an excessive amount of money to support the federal government.

Democratic Republicans and Federalist remained true to their tenets during the earlier parts of the period, but after the War of 1812, transformation in the parties’ principles became clearly eminent. Jefferson passed the Embargo Act, in attempt to practice peaceful coercion; however, the embargo failed and forced the Democratic-Republican congress into fighting a war with England. After war sparked, the Democratic-Republicans began to push for a military, a federal bank with a tariff, and a loosely interpreted amendable constitution. The Federalist desired to limit the now predominantly Democratic-Republican, but still the central government, as they demanded limiting changes to congress’ legislations and openly strictly interpreting the constitution. Both parties’ beliefs evolved; however, they sacrificed beliefs in order to preserve the main principle of each party, an agrarian expansion westward and inward for the Democratic-Republicans and commerce and trade for the Federalist.

Monroe served in Congress for three years. In 1784, during a congressional recess, Monroe journeyed through the Western territories. After the Constitutional Convention drafted the new Constitution of the United States in 1787, Monroe was elected a delegate to the Virginia convention called to ratify it. In 1789 Monroe moved to Albemarle County, Virginia, near Jefferson's estate, Monticello. In the Senate, Monroe aligned himself with the Anti-Federalists.