Life and Background

- Presidency from 1809-1817

- Served two terms 1809-1813, and 1813-1817

- 4th President of the United States

- Born in Port Conway, Virginia (March 16, 1751)

-Father: James Madison
Mother: Nelly Conway

- He was the oldest of 12 children

- Considered one of the Founding Fathers of the
United States

- Nickname: Father of the Constitution

- Wrote the federalists essay with the help of Alexander Hamilton and John Jay

- Responsible for the ten amendments of the Constitution (Bill of Rights)

- Married Dolly Payne Todd Madison (no children)

- Attended the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University)

- Early Career: Lawyer, United States Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson

- During Secretary of State, played major role in buying Louisiana Purchase

- Helped with the Embargo Act of 1807 to stop seizure of American ships by Britain
and France

- He participated in the Virginia and Kentucy Resolutions (nullify if unconstitutional)

Election of 1808

Before James Madison ran for the president, he was the Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson. They were both Democratic-Republicans, and were close friends. Since Jefferson decided not to run for his third term, he endorsed Madison as his successor. During the election of 1808, James Madison's opponent was Charles C. Pinckney. Madison was a Democratic-Republican, and Pinckney was a Federalist. In the electoral votes, Madison got 122 and Pinckney got 47. For the popular votes, Madison won with 64.7% and Pinckney lost with 32.4%. Madison had easily won Pinckney through Jefferson's popularity.

Madison became the 4th president of the United States. His vice president was George Clinton, the previous vice president of Thomas Jefferson (1805-1809). As Madison took office, he immediately faced hardships between England and France. Jefferson's Embargo Act of 1807 had obviously failed. It not only affected England and other countries but also the US merchants in the South. International trade slowed down, which caused US economy to go down. Madison tried hard to maintain US neutrality, and at the same time, protect the economy.

Election of 1812

Madison decided to run for his second term. His opponent in the election of 1812 was DeWitt Clinton, a federalist. Supported by the federalists in New York and New Jersey, they thought Clinton could win Madison. But again, Madison got re-elected easily. Madison got 128 and Clinton got 89 in the electoral votes. For the popular votes, Madison received 50.4% and Clinton got 47.6%. Due to the previous vice president's death (George Clinton), Elbridge Gerry became Madison's vice president in 1813-1814.

U.S. had a hard time maintaining its neutrality towards England and France. The British seizing of impressment didn't stop, which eventually led to the War of 1812.

Domestic Policies and Affairs

Madison's view of domestic policy was to simply to protect U.S. economy and it as a nation. Since the Embargo Act of 1807 have failed, U.S. economy went down because all American ports were closed and it prohibited international trade. The main focus of the Embargo Act was to change the English and French policy toward United States. Therefore, the Embargo Act was replaced by the Nonintercourse Act, which enabled U.S. to trade with other nations except England and France. However, it didn't work out well. So, in 1810, the Macon's Bill No. 2 was passed to repeal the Nonintercourse Act, which stated that if either one of the countries stop attacking U.S. ships, then America would trade with them unless they recognize America's neutrality. France agreed, but Britain kept on attacking U.S. ships.




The War of 1812 had left U.S. in debt and inflation for financing military operations. Madison and Congress decided to create a Second Bank of the United States, and not renew the charter of the First Bank of the United States.



Native American were in constant conflict with the American settlers. U.S. was angered by the British, who supported ammunitions and weapons for Indians to continue to fight with the Americans. The U.S. Army were ready to fight the Indians and their confederacy. The Native American chief, Tecumseh, tried to prevent American expansion. The key victory of U.S. was the Battle of Thames. It is where Tecumseh died, and his threat to America ended.

Foreign Policy and Affairs

Madison's main foreign affair was the War of 1812, which is also known as the Second War of Independence. U.S. struggled under British impressments of American sailors, the use of British spies to infiltrate U.S. government, and the encouragement of Indians in the West of the ongoing fight with the Americans. Also the War Hawks, led by Henry Clay of Kentucky, they passionately supported for war with England. All these factors urged Madison to declare war on England.

Although they called for war, America was not prepared for war with the mighty British. Some Southern states refused to fight this war. So, Madison and the Congress decided to invade British Canada. This made the Federalists oppose more of the war. The Federalists in New England got together at the Hartford Convention and discussed about the possibility to secede from the U.S.

In 1814, the British focused only to defeat America. They used their navy and blocked the American coasts to stop American shipping. This resulted the weakened U.S. economy. They also invaded Washington, D.C and burnt most of the city, including the White House.

Then, the British began to focus on the Mississippi River, where most farmers relied on. General Andrew Jackson led a group (clerks, laborers, mulatto slaves) against the British, and they surprisingly won. A peace agreement, Treaty of Ghent, was signed before the battle, but didn't reach them until the end of the war. Andrew Jackson was praised as a national hero after the war. The Battle of New Orleans resulted in nationalism and the gain of international respect.

Death and Legacy

Madison left office in 1817, and went back to his tobacco plantation in Montpelier. His health deteriorated and he died in June 28, 1836. He was 85 years old, and was the last Founding Father to die. Madison's work on the Bill of Rights, the Federalist essays, and the Articles of Confederation had the most lasting impact on the U.S. government. He is considered one of the most influential person in U.S. Through all the system of government, every American lives out Madison's legacy today.

Interesting facts:
- James Madison (5 feet 4 inches, 100 pounds) he was the shortest and the lightest president
- Madison was the first president to wear long trousers-- previous presidents wore knee breeches