All the presidents in the past have played an important part in shaping our country the way it is today. Either for better or for worse. James Madison is one of the presidents which made a difference for the better and probably did some of the best actions for our country. He did his job with pride for The United States of America and he did his job humbly with efficiency. That is why I look up to this American Hero. Like myself, Madison was shy yet persistent when it came to things he felt passionate about. To Madison that was politics. At the start of his political career in 1776 he started working very closely with Thomas Jefferson. As Madison grew in his career he became a very respected leader in congress and eventually was one that helped pushed the idea for national convention to draft the constitution. During Madison’s career, he wrote many political articles and papers. Some of his most well-known writings are the “Virginia Plan” and contribution to the “Federalist Papers”. The “Virginia Plan” ended up being so well done that it was the blueprint for the constitution when it was being …show more content…
As a leader Madison legitimately wanted the best for the American people. As he grew into a politician of authority, he did the best he could at the time to accomplish what the people as a nation needed to be able to thrive for years on after with efforts towards the “Constitution,” “Bill of Rights”, and “Federalist Papers”. All of which are still effective today in the United States Government. James Madison not only wanted the best for his people, he loved what he was doing as well. From a young age he was interested in the political debates over independence. He continued and rose up the ladder in his career because of his passion for what he did and the care he put in his work knowing it will benefit many people other than
He discusses how Madison noticed the problem of each of the 134 states having its own agenda. Madison even thought that people were interested in their local politics. They don’t think of the whole state or even the whole country (Wood, 2012). He wanted to change this and create a stronger government that would override certain state powers like money printing and the ability to pass tariffs. He suggested that democracy was not a solution, but a problem (Wood, 2012). Basically, on a state level, he wanted to elevate decision making to limit democracy which was actually causing more harm than
How many Americans recognize the man on the back of the one hundred dollar bill? Do you know who he is and why he is on the back of that bill? If you said George Washington then you are right! It is said that when one begins something that others will follow behind you and in George Washington's case that is correct. George Washington paved the way for many other presidents that followed after him up until the one we currently have today. Without our first president we would not have our current president. George Washington made huge contributions and achievements to our country that still stand today.
James Madison, an American statesman and political theorist that was present at the constitutional convention. Many of the ideas proposed by Madison are part of the reason that the Constitution has withstood the test of time. Madison was ultimately prepared to deal with one of the biggest problems this new government would face in his eyes, factions. Factions, which as defined by Madison are “a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community” (Madison 156). Madison addresses various ways that he sees factions can be cured of its mischiefs such as removing a faction’s causes and also controlling their effects. Madison points out that this is would potentially create an even bigger problem than the factions themselves by stating, “Liberty is to faction, what air is to fire, an ailment, without which it instantly expires” (Madison 156) Madison also stated that the way for a government to remove the cause of faction was either to destroy the liberty that causes factions to exist in the first place or to give every citizen the same beliefs and opinions. Madison deemed this impractical, because it is nearly impossible to give everyone in a given place the same opinions and destroying the liberty would take away the very thing that the colonies fought for 4 years earlier. The fact is Madison knew that the country wouldn’t be able to count on a well-educated statesman to be there any time a faction gets out of hand. Madison knew the only viable way to keep factions under control is not to get rid of factions entirely but to set a r...
It is interesting to see how he took these scattered and incomplete fragments and built them into an intellectual and theoretical structure of his own. Madison's first full statement of this hypothesis appeared in his "Notes on the Confederacy" written in April 1787, eight months before the final version of it was published as the tenth Federalist. Starting with the proposition that "in republican Government, the majority, however, composed, ultimately give the law," Madison then asks what is to restrain an interested majority from unjust violations of the minority's rights? Three motives might be claimed to meliorate the selfishness of the majority: first, "prudent regard for their own good, as involved in the general . . . good" second, "respect for character" and finally, religious scruples. After examining each in its turn Madison concludes that they are but a frail bulwark against a ruthless
There have been many historical figures throughout the existence of the United States. However, there are two that I find exceptionally interesting. These two historical figures are the 16th United States President, Abraham Lincoln and the 4th United States President, James Madison. Both Abraham Lincoln and James Madison were not just extraordinary Presidents, but they also believed in freedom and the basic rights of life for all citizens.
James Madison was no stranger to opposition. In publishing an essay referred to today as Federalist Essay No. 10, Madison participated in a persuasive attempt to ratify the Constitution, a document he drafted and for which he is credited as its “Father”. Along with John Jay, who became the United States’ first Supreme Court Chief Justice, and Alexander Hamilton, who became the first Secretary of the Treasury, Madison articulates in his writing the necessity of the Constitution as a remedy for the extant ills of an infant nation recently freed from the grasp of distant monarchical rule. This young nation faltered under the first endeavor of organized government, the Articles of Confederation. The Articles were designed during a period of emerging
Throughout American history, many individuals have made reforms to the government. However, significant actions done by George Mason and James Madison still impact society today with the Bill of Rights and the implementation of a ‘check and balance’ government system. George Mason and James Madison were both influential figures in the creation of the United States’ government structure with their oppositions to prejudiced governments.
...uthors’ ideas about Logic of American Politics in that government now, you have to come to a common agreement. In Madison’s beliefs, he believed that equality and liberty were two of the most important things. In the textbook, they explain that congress most come to common ground before agreeing on anything so many things are hard to accomplish. In Madison’s ideas, I believe this is what he was truly encompassing; he didn’t want one side of an argument win and have those majorities rule. He wanted everyone to be heard not just those of the ruling party. As for Collective Action, the textbook relates to Madison by ways of coordination. Madison believed that it would be better to work as one huge group than a ton of tiny factions. He believed that all beliefs and ideas should be represented as a group rather than individually to minimize as much problems as possible.
Gary Wills, a presidential historian, sums up James Madison rather well when he says, “The finest part of Madison’s performance as President was his concern for the preserving of the Constitution. No man could do everything for the country-not even Washington. Madison did more than most and some things better than any” (Wills).I truly believe James Madison to be one of the best political minds in American history. Although his presidency was filled with turmoil, he and the nation came out stronger than ever.
James Madison held many other positions in the government. He was a member of Virginia Constitutional Convention in 1776 where he helped frame the Virginia Constitution. As a member of Continental Congress from 1780-83, although he was the youngest delegate, he played a major role in the deliberations of that body....
James Madison was the fourth president of the United States of America. He was known as a Founding Father and contributed to the making of the Federalist papers and much more. He accomplished much in his time. Madison was liked by very many and was good at what he did. He was one of historys’s most memorable presidents. James Madison helped sculpt the government during his time.
James Madison was born on March 16, 1751 on his grandmother’s plantation located in Virginia. His parents were visiting his grandparents at the time at the plantation which was located in King George County. James Madison Jr.’s parents were James Madison Sr. and Nelly Conway Madison. James Madison Jr. was one of twelve children. James Sr. was an extremely wealthy land owner and farmer from Virginia. He owned the largest plantation in Orange County, Virginia. James Sr.’s plantation was known for its large production of tobacco. James Madison was raised in a mansion located on his father’s tobacco plantation. That mansion to this day is called the Montpelier. The plantation that James grew up on was located near a brick church which the Madison family attended. The church that the Madison’s attended was an Anglican church. James Madison Sr. served as vestryman at the church. A vestryman is a person who works with the church on administrative levels. James Sr. was not clergy. James Jr. grandmother was a devout Anglican who taught him many things growing. This is thought to be the beginning of the formation of James Madison’s views.
During his entire life, James Madison, who is one of the founding fathers, contributed many dedications to the States, especially when creating the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. As the fourth president of the U.S, he consciously chose to create a new model of presidential power that he thought would fit better with the system of the separation of powers after seeing “the danger overwrought executive power poses to republican constitutionalism” (Kleinerman). Despite of having such good intention, some of his actions led the country through some significant suffers.
He was a small man at 5 feet 4 inches tall, less than 100 pounds with penetrating eyes, a charming smile, and parchment skin. "James Madison Jr. born into a large Episcopalian family on March 16,1751 in Port Conway, Virginia, made a large political impact on the United States of America" (The Federalist 1). "He was frequently referred to as the father of the Constitution, for he made many provisions to it's making" (The Federalist 1). "His father James Madison Sr. one of the wealthiest landowner's of the area managed a large Piedmont farm, and married late to Nelly Conway in 1749." "There were eleven children born in all to the Madison family, only seven survived to adulthood" (Rakove 1). "The first born son James Madison Jr. was to be the heir of the plantation located in Orange County, Virginia" (Ketcham 12). "During his childhood years life centered on the farm." "The building of the new family home became the main interest of young Madison Jr. who was noted to spend time lifting small boards to help build the home." "He would help to furnish it by carrying small pieces of furniture from the old to the new" (Ketcham 13). "During the stressful building of the mansion there was the fright of the Indian War, and the terrible drought that had taken effect on Orange County." "Thought to be one of the hardest times that young Madison endured throughout life was the severe epidemic of smallpox" (Ketcham 14). "It is thought that young Madison and his siblings were isolated from contact with outside humans, or sent away for fear they would contract the disease" (Ketcham 17).
Madison held a position in many public offices. In 1774, Madison was elected to the Orange County Committee of Safety (Bio. True Story). This was the very beginning to a very promising and successful political career. In 1776, Madison was elected as an Orange County Representative at the Virginia Convention. In that same year, Madison actually drafted Virginia’s State Constitution. The following year, 1777, Madison was appointed to the Governor’s Council ...