James Madison
Founding Father and US president
James Madison was the fourth president of the United States and a Founding Father. He helped write The Federalist Papers and is known as the "Father of the Constitution".
1 summary 17 min of listening
American Born 1751 in Port Conway Died 1836
About James Madison
James Madison (1751-1836) was born in Virginia and became one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He joined the Patriot cause in 1774 and later served in the Virginia House of Delegates and the Continental Congress. Unhappy with the weak national government under the Articles of Confederation, he helped organize the Constitutional Convention. His Virginia Plan formed the basis of its discussions, and he became known as the "Father of the Constitution" for his part in drafting and promoting it, along with the Bill of Rights. Together with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, he wrote The Federalist Papers, a series of essays urging ratification of the Constitution. Madison became a leader in the House of Representatives and, with Thomas Jefferson, organized the Democratic-Republican Party. He was Jefferson's Secretary of State from 1801 to 1809, then served as president from 1809 to 1817, leading the country into the War of 1812. After his presidency he retired to his Virginia plantation, Montpelier, where he died.