JAMES+MADISON

=JAMES MAISON author: Kelly O.=

James Madison was born March 16, 1751 and died June 28, 1836, he had many accomplishments.

James Madison was the main creator of the United States Constitution, the Secretary of State under President Thomas Jefferson, and the fourth president of the United States. During the Revolution, he helped draft Virginia's State Constitution and served in the Continental Congress. During the years right after the war he grew convinced of the submissive and general failures that would soon follow unless the National Government was reformed. As a result of that, he joined those calling for a Constitutional Convention. He teamed up with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay to expose the Federalist documents. After the Constitution's approval, he served in the United States Congress from 1789 to 1797.

As a United States Congressman and as Jefferson's Secretary of State, he disputed the British investments and oceanic rules should be responded with disciplinary taxes and trade restrictions. Madison influenced Jefferson to accept a complete hinderance against total trade in 1807.

As president Jefferson's Secretary of State Madison showed great influence on Jefferson's foreign policy. He encouraged Jefferson to secure from Congress the embargo that suspended American trade in December 1807. Over the next year or so, as opposition to this policy mounted Jefferson defered to Madison on all foreign policy decisions. Despite the unpopularity of the administration's polocies in New England, Madison was voted president in 1808 by more than a two- to- one margin in the Electoral College.

As president, Madison continued to support aggresive trade measures against Britian and requested a decleration of war against Great Britain in 1812 when commercial and pressure failed to acheive a change in British policy.

During the War of 1812, Madison faced almost treasonous opposition from merchants and public officials in New England. However, he refused to limit civil liberties or declare martial law, as he urged to do so by supporters.

James Madison died June 28, 1836 due to debility.

REFERENCES
 * "James Madison." //http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_madison//. 2010. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.,, Web. 5 Mar 2010. []. ||



"James Madison." Ohio History Central. 2010. Ohio Historical Society, Web. 5 Mar 2010. [].
Shmoop Editorial Team. "James Madison in The War of 1812." //Shmoop.com//. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 05 Mar 2010.