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'''James Madison''' (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836), an American statesman, political theorist, party leader and fourth President of the [[United States]] of America (1809–1817), was one of the most influential [[Founding Fathers]] of the United States. Considered to be the "Father of the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]]," Madison played the central role in designing the 1787 document and promoting its ratification. In 1788, he wrote over a third of the [[Federalist Papers]], still the most influential commentary on the Constitution. As a leader in the first Congresses, he drafted many basic laws and was responsible for the first ten amendments to the Constitution, and thus is also known as the "Father of the Bill of Rights."  As a political theorist, Madison advanced the theory of [[republicanism]]. Madison's most distinctive belief was that the new republic needed checks and balances to limit the powers of special interests, which Madison called ''factions.''<ref>Robert Alan Dahl, "Madisonian Democracy," in Dahl, et al., eds. ''The Democracy Sourcebook'' (MIT Press, 2003), pp. 207-16.</ref> He believed very strongly that the new nation should fight against aristocracy and corruption (especially of British origin), and was deeply committed to creating mechanisms that would ensure [[Republicanism]] in the United States.<ref>Banning, 1995; Kernell, 2003; Riemer, 1954.</ref>

'''James Madison''' (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836), an American statesman, political theorist, party leader and fourth President of the [[United States]] of America (1809–1817), was one of the most influential [[Founding Fathers]] of the United States. Considered to be the "Father of the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]]," Madison played the central role in designing the 1787 document and promoting its ratification. In 1788, he wrote over a third of the [[Federalist Papers]], still the most influential commentary on the Constitution. As a leader in the first Congresses, he drafted many basic laws and was responsible for the first ten amendments to the Constitution, and thus is also known as the "Father of the Bill of Rights."  As a political theorist, Madison advanced the theory of [[republicanism]]. Madison's most distinctive belief was that the new republic needed checks and balances to limit the powers of special interests, which Madison called ''factions.''<ref>Robert Alan Dahl, "Madisonian Democracy," in Dahl, et al., eds. ''The Democracy Sourcebook'' (MIT Press, 2003), pp. 207-16.</ref> He believed very strongly that the new nation should fight against aristocracy and corruption (especially of British origin), and was deeply committed to creating mechanisms that would ensure [[republicanism]] in the United States.<ref>Banning, 1995; Kernell, 2003; Riemer, 1954.</ref>

As leader in the House of Representatives, Madison worked closely with President [[George Washington]] to organize the new federal government.  Breaking with Treasury Secretary [[Alexander Hamilton]] in 1791, Madison and [[Thomas Jefferson]] organized the [[Republicans (Jeffersonian) | Jeffersonian Republican party]]. The new party opposed Hamilton's financial and foreign policies, especially the national bank and the [[Jay Treaty]]. In 1798 to protest the [[Alien and Sedition Laws]] Madison secretly coauthored, along with Thomas Jefferson, the [[Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions]] that called for states to block federal laws.

As leader in the House of Representatives, Madison worked closely with President [[George Washington]] to organize the new federal government.  Breaking with Treasury Secretary [[Alexander Hamilton]] in 1792, Madison and [[Thomas Jefferson]] organized the [[Jeffersonian Republicans]]. The new party opposed Hamilton's financial and foreign policies, especially the national bank and the [[Jay Treaty]]. In 1798 to protest the [[Alien and Sedition Laws]] Madison secretly coauthored, along with Thomas Jefferson, the [[Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions]] that called for states to block federal laws.

   

   

As Jefferson's secretary of state (1801-1809), Madison supervised the [[Louisiana Purchase]], doubling the nation's size, and sponsored the ill-fated [[Embargo of 1807]] to punish British and French  violations of American rights. As president, he led the nation into the [[War of 1812]] against Britain in order to uphold American honor against British insults (especially the impressment of American sailors), to protect America's rights to trade with France, and to stop the British aid to Indians who were blocking expansion into the northwest Territory.  

As Jefferson's secretary of state (1801-1809), Madison supervised the [[Louisiana Purchase]], doubling the nation's size, and sponsored the ill-fated [[Embargo of 1807]] to punish British and French  violations of American rights. As president, he led the nation into the [[War of 1812]] against Britain in order to uphold American honor against British insults (especially the impressment of American sailors), to protect America's rights to trade with France, and to stop the British aid to Indians who were blocking expansion into the northwest Territory.  

==The ''Federalist Papers''==

==The ''Federalist Papers''==

To aid the push for ratification, Madison joined [[Alexander Hamilton]] (and also [[John Jay]]) to write the ''[[The Federalist Papers]]''. These essays that immediately became the single most important interpretation of the Constitution, and remains so among jurists and scholars. Madison a third of them, most famously paper #10, in which he explained how a large country with many different interests and factions could support republican values better than a small country dominated by a few special interests. His interpretation was largely ignored at the time, but in the 20th century became a central part of the pluralist interpretation of American politics.<ref>Kramer, 1999</ref>  Madison is often hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for his role in its drafting and ratification. However, he protested the title as being "a credit to which I have no claim... [The Constitution] was not, like the fabled Goddess of Wisdom, the offspring of a single brain.  It ought to be regarded as the work of many heads and many hands".<ref> Lance Banning, "James Madison: Federalist," note 1, [http://www.loc.gov/loc/madison/banning-paper.html].</ref>

To aid the push for ratification, Madison joined [[Alexander Hamilton]] (and also [[John Jay]]) to write the ''[[The Federalist Papers]]''. These essays that immediately became the single most important interpretation of the Constitution, and remains so among jurists and scholars. Madison a third of them, most famously paper No. 10, in which he explained how a large country with many different interests and factions could support republican values better than a small country dominated by a few special interests. His interpretation was largely ignored at the time, but in the 20th century became a central part of the pluralist interpretation of American politics.<ref>Kramer, 1999</ref>  Madison is often hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for his role in its drafting and ratification. However, he protested the title as being "a credit to which I have no claim... [The Constitution] was not, like the fabled Goddess of Wisdom, the offspring of a single brain.  It ought to be regarded as the work of many heads and many hands".<ref> Lance Banning, "James Madison: Federalist," note 1, [http://www.loc.gov/loc/madison/banning-paper.html].</ref>

Back in Virginia in 1788, Madison led the fight for ratification of the Constitution at the state's convention, oratorically dueling with [[Patrick Henry]] and other Anti-Federalists who tried to block the nationalistic document. The compromise reached was ratification together with the promise of a Bill of Rights that would be promptly added.  All 13 states ratified the new Constitution and it took effect in 1789, as Washington was sworn in as president.

Back in Virginia in 1788, Madison led the fight for ratification of the Constitution at the state's convention, oratorically dueling with [[Patrick Henry]] and other Anti-Federalists who tried to block the nationalistic document. The compromise reached was ratification together with the promise of a Bill of Rights that would be promptly added.  All 13 states ratified the new Constitution and it took effect in 1789, as Washington was sworn in as president.

When Britain and France went to war in 1793 the U.S. was caught in the middle. The 1778 treaty of alliance with France was still in effect, yet most of the new country's trade was with Britain. War with Britain seemed imminent in 1794, as the British seized hundreds of American ships that were trading with French colonies. Madison (in collaboration with Jefferson, who had returned to private life), believed that Britain was weak and America strong, and that a trade war with Britain, although it threatened retaliation by Britain, probably would succeed, and would allow Americans to assert their independence fully. Britain, he charged, "has bound us in commercial manacles, and very nearly defeated the object of our independence". Madison had no fear of British recriminations for "her interests can be wounded almost mortally, while ours are invulnerable". The British West Indies, he maintained, could not live without American foodstuffs, but Americans could easily do without British manufactures. This same faith led him to the conclusion "that it is in our power, in a very short time, to supply all the tonnage necessary for our own commerce".<ref>Paul A. Varg, ''Foreign Policies of the Founding Fathers'' (1963), p. 74.</ref> However, President Washington avoided a trade war and instead Hamilton and Jay secured friendly trade relations with Britain through the [[Jay Treaty]] of 1794. Madison tried and failed to defeat the treaty, and it became a central issue of the emerging [[First Party System]]. All across the country, voters divided for and against the Treaty and other key issues, and thus became Federalists or Republicans.

When Britain and France went to war in 1793 the U.S. was caught in the middle. The 1778 treaty of alliance with France was still in effect, yet most of the new country's trade was with Britain. War with Britain seemed imminent in 1794, as the British seized hundreds of American ships that were trading with French colonies. Madison (in collaboration with Jefferson, who had returned to private life), believed that Britain was weak and America strong, and that a trade war with Britain, although it threatened retaliation by Britain, probably would succeed, and would allow Americans to assert their independence fully. Britain, he charged, "has bound us in commercial manacles, and very nearly defeated the object of our independence". Madison had no fear of British recriminations for "her interests can be wounded almost mortally, while ours are invulnerable". The British West Indies, he maintained, could not live without American foodstuffs, but Americans could easily do without British manufactures. This same faith led him to the conclusion "that it is in our power, in a very short time, to supply all the tonnage necessary for our own commerce".<ref>Paul A. Varg, ''Foreign Policies of the Founding Fathers'' (1963), p. 74.</ref> However, President Washington avoided a trade war and instead Hamilton and Jay secured friendly trade relations with Britain through the [[Jay Treaty]] of 1794. Madison tried and failed to defeat the treaty, and it became a central issue of the emerging [[First Party System]]. All across the country, voters divided for and against the Treaty and other key issues, and thus became Federalists or Republicans.

===Madison vs Hamilton===

===Madison vs Hamilton===

Treasury Secretary [[Alexander Hamilton]] built a nationwide network of supporters that became the [[Federalist Party]], and promoted a strong central government with a national bank. Madison and Jefferson organized the "Republican party", in 1793 (historians later called it the [[Democratic-Republican Party]]). It opposed Hamilton's domestic and foreign policies and the Federalists overall as centralizers and pro-British elitists who would undermine republican values. Madison led the unsuccessful attempt to block Hamilton's proposed [[First Bank of the United States|Bank of the United States]], arguing the new Constitution did not explicitly allow the federal government to form a bank.<ref>As early as May 26, 1792, Hamilton complained, "Mr. Madison cooperating with Mr. Jefferson is at the head of a faction decidedly hostile to me and my administration. Hamilton, ''Writings'' (2001), p. 738. On May 5, 1792, Madison told Washington, "with respect to the spirit of party that was taking place ...I was sensible of its existence". ''Madison Letters'' (1865), 1:554.</ref>

Treasury Secretary [[Alexander Hamilton]] built a nationwide network of supporters that became the [[Federalist Party]], and promoted a strong central government with a national bank. Madison and Jefferson organized the the Republican party in 1792. It opposed Hamilton's domestic and foreign policies and the Federalists overall as centralizers and pro-British elitists who would undermine republican values. Madison led the unsuccessful attempt to block Hamilton's proposed [[First Bank of the United States|Bank of the United States]], arguing the new Constitution did not explicitly allow the federal government to form a bank.<ref>As early as May 26, 1792, Hamilton complained, "Mr. Madison cooperating with Mr. Jefferson is at the head of a faction decidedly hostile to me and my administration. Hamilton, ''Writings'' (2001), p. 738. On May 5, 1792, Madison told Washington, "with respect to the spirit of party that was taking place ...I was sensible of its existence". ''Madison Letters'' (1865), 1:554.</ref>

===States rights===

===States rights===