James Madison

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12/09/14
Emily Medsker
James Madison

James Madison, 1751­1836, was the fourth president of the United States. Madison, a

Virginian native, attended Princeton University and later became a successful lawyer then politician. He started his political career as a Member of Virginia Constitutional Convention in
1776. In 1779 Madison was elected as the youngest Member of Continental Congress at the age of 29. He then became a Member of Virginia Legislature from 1784 to 1786. In 1787 he was a
Member of Constitutional Convention. During the Constitutional Convention, also known as the
Philadelphia Convention, Madison earned his nickname as the Father of the Constitution authoring the Virginia Plan and the United States Bill of Rights. Both documents helped frame the structure of the United Stated Government. Later Madison became a Member of U.S. House of Representatives, serving a total of nine years from 1789 to 1797. Thomas Jefferson then appointed Madison as Secretary of State, from 1801 to 1809.

After 30+ years working as U.S politician, Madison ran for Democratic­Republican presidential election in 1808 with George Clinton, the vice president candidate. Madison won
122 presidential electoral votes defeating the Federalist presidential candidate, Charles C.
Pinckney, who had 47. March 4, 1809 James Madison gave his First Inaugural Address announcing that the U.S will not be tolerating foreign interference from England and France. Our

fourth President James Madison's cabinet consisted of Robert Smith as Secretary of State; Albert
Gallatin as Secretary of the Treasury; William Eustis as Secretary of War; and Paul Hamilton as
Secretary of the Navy; Caesar Rodney, as Attorney General. The President’s cabinet was fugitive, for they were hostile among the officers and the conflict was a constant. Congress strongly resisted Madison’s Administration and actions, which only made tensions worse.

The first Bank of the United States lapse in 1811, after congress and the president are unable to repass the 20 year charter needed to keep it going. This action bankrupts our country before the start of the war in June of 1812 against Britain. Tensions were high in congress and Madison’s administration. Secretary Gallatin put a letter of resignation due to the failure of the National
Bank, which Madison did not accept. Instead President Madison forced Secretary of State Robert
Smith to resign. Smith and his family opposed most actions made by Madison and his administration and stirred up conflict. Madison replace Robert Smith with James Monroe, his action unified his cabinet and proved to be successful.

President Madison's Administration also took action on dealing with the growing conflict

in the Northwest Territory between the Indian nations. The battle of Tippecanoe occurred and basically stopped the unification of Indians to ever happen again. This battle did cause ager and strife in our nation, due to the suspicion of Britain being the culprit in causing the war between two major Indian tribes. Madison was encouraged by republicans to enter Canada and pursue war with Great Britain, which Madison ignored.

Madison remained passive with congress and focused on foreign affairs with

England and France, who were in the middle of war and the presidential administration

prohibited trade with either country. In May of 1810 United States congress decided to approve trading with both countries. During this friction between nations, The United States started trade in hopes that Britain and France would end its aggressive behavior toward American commerce on the high seas. Instead their aggressions worsen, both powers was seizing United States cargo ships and imprisoning American sailors. By 1812 Madison and congress were considering war.
President Madison faced his bid for reelection in the fall of 1812, and won with his vice president Elbridge Gerry. Gerry died in
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