Changes

On September 14, 1794, Madison married [[Dolley Madison|Dolley Payne Todd]], who cut as attractive and vivacious a figure as he did a sickly and anti-social one. Dolley is largely credited with inventing the role of First Lady as political ally and adviser to the president. They had no children.

On September 14, 1794, Madison married [[Dolley Madison|Dolley Payne Todd]], who cut as attractive and vivacious a figure as he did a sickly and anti-social one. Dolley is largely credited with inventing the role of First Lady as political ally and adviser to the president. They had no children.

Both of them were close friends with former President [[Thomas Jefferson]]. They lived on a neighboring hilltop near Jefferson's hilltop estate, [[Monticello]], in Virginia.

Both of them were close friends with former President Thomas Jefferson. They lived on a neighboring hilltop near Jefferson's hilltop estate, [[Monticello]], in Virginia.

==Political career==

==Political career==

===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 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>

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 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===

British insults continued, especially the practice of using the Royal Navy to intercept unarmed American merchant ships and "[[impressment|impress]]" (conscript) all sailors who might be British subjects for service in the British navy.  Madison's protests were ignored, so he helped stir up public opinion in the west and south for war. One argument was that an American invasion of Canada (that is, modern Ontario) would be easy and would provide a good bargaining chip. (Since 1940 American and Canadian historians have agreed that Americans did not desire to acquire Canadian lands, but to stop British aid to the hostile Indians.) Madison carefully prepared public opinion for what everyone at the time called "Mr. Madison's War", but failed to build up the army, navy, forts, and state militias. After he convinced Congress to declare war, Madison was re-elected President over [[DeWitt Clinton]] but by a smaller margin than in 1808.  Historians in 2006 ranked Madison's failure to avoid war as the sixth worst presidential mistake ever made.<ref name = "CTV">[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060218/presidential_errors_060218/20060218?hub=World CTV]</ref>  

British insults continued, especially the practice of using the Royal Navy to intercept unarmed American merchant ships and "[[impressment|impress]]" (conscript) all sailors who might be British subjects for service in the British navy.  Madison's protests were ignored, so he helped stir up public opinion in the west and south for war. One argument was that an American invasion of Canada (that is, modern Ontario) would be easy and would provide a good bargaining chip. (Since 1940 American and Canadian historians have agreed that Americans did not desire to acquire Canadian lands, but to stop British aid to the hostile Indians.) Madison carefully prepared public opinion for what everyone at the time called "Mr. Madison's War", but failed to build up the army, navy, forts, and state militias. After he convinced Congress to declare war, Madison was re-elected President over [[DeWitt Clinton]] but by a smaller margin than in 1808.  Historians in 2006 ranked Madison's failure to avoid war as the sixth worst presidential mistake ever made.<ref name = "CTV">[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060218/presidential_errors_060218/20060218?hub=World CTV]</ref>  

In the ensuing [[War of 1812]], the British and their Indian allies won numerous victories, including the capture of Detroit after the American general there surrendered to a smaller force without a fight, and a British raid burned the White House.  The British alliance with the western Indians proved a failure, as the [[Battle of Lake Erie]] in 1813 secured American control of the west, [[Tecumseh]] was killed, and his Indian coalition destroyed at the Battle of the Thames.  A standoff was reached on the Canadian border, as Americans controlled Lake Erie and the British controlled Lake Ontario after a ship-building race. The British sent a major invasion force into New York but Americans sank the supporting fleet and the British retreated to Canada in 1814. At sea, the British blockaded the entire American coastline, cutting off both foreign trade and domestic trade between ports.  Economic hardship was severe in New England, but entrepreneurs built factories that soon became the basis of the industrial revolution in America.

In the ensuing War of 1812, the British and their Indian allies won numerous victories, including the capture of Detroit after the American general there surrendered to a smaller force without a fight, and a British raid burned the White House.  The British alliance with the western Indians proved a failure, as the [[Battle of Lake Erie]] in 1813 secured American control of the west, [[Tecumseh]] was killed, and his Indian coalition destroyed at the Battle of the Thames.  A standoff was reached on the Canadian border, as Americans controlled Lake Erie and the British controlled Lake Ontario after a shipbuilding race. The British sent a major invasion force into New York but Americans sank the supporting fleet and the British retreated to Canada in 1814. At sea, the British blockaded the entire American coastline, cutting off both foreign trade and domestic trade between ports.  Economic hardship was severe in New England, but entrepreneurs built factories that soon became the basis of the industrial revolution in America.

Madison faced formidable obstacles—a divided cabinet, a factious party, a recalcitrant Congress, obstructionist governors, and amazingly incompetent generals, together with militia who refused to fight outside their states. Most serious was lack of unified popular support. There were serious threats of disunion from New England, which engaged in massive smuggling to Canada and refused to provide financial support or soldiers.<ref>Stagg, 1983.</ref> However [[Andrew Jackson]] in the South and [[William Henry Harrison]] in the West destroyed the main Indian threats by 1813.

Madison faced formidable obstacles—a divided cabinet, a factious party, a recalcitrant Congress, obstructionist governors, and amazingly incompetent generals, together with militia who refused to fight outside their states. Most serious was lack of unified popular support. There were serious threats of disunion from New England, which engaged in massive smuggling to Canada and refused to provide financial support or soldiers.<ref>Stagg, 1983.</ref> However [[Andrew Jackson]] in the South and [[William Henry Harrison]] in the West destroyed the main Indian threats by 1813.

== Views on national government==

== Views on national government==

Madison was the main drafter of the Constitution at the 1787 Philadelphia convention; his Notes remain the best source of the debates at this secret meeting.  With [[Alexander Hamilton]] and one other he coauthored [[Federalist Papers]] of 1788, which helped convince New York to ratify the Constitution.  The ''Federalist Papers'' remain to this day the most important commentary of the Constitution.

Madison was the main drafter of the Constitution at the 1787 Philadelphia convention; his Notes remain the best source of the debates at this secret meeting.  With Alexander Hamilton and one other he coauthored [[Federalist Papers]] of 1788, which helped convince New York to ratify the Constitution.  The ''Federalist Papers'' remain to this day the most important commentary of the Constitution.

Like other nationalists Madison was disgusted with the weak national government of the 1780s—it was badly organized (with no president and no courts), and lacked the power to raise taxes. It would be unable to defend the new nation in a major war.  Hamilton therefore was a strong proponent of powerful national government at this point. (He changed his mind in the 1790s.)   

Like other nationalists Madison was disgusted with the weak national government of the 1780s—it was badly organized (with no president and no courts), and lacked the power to raise taxes. It would be unable to defend the new nation in a major war.  Hamilton therefore was a strong proponent of powerful national government at this point. (He changed his mind in the 1790s.)   

==The War of 1812==

==The War of 1812==

Madison is considered to have been an inadequate President. He failed to resole diplomatically the continuing British seizure of American ships. Instead, he pushed for an unnecessary war, and the U.S. eventually invaded Canada (then still a British colony), in what became known as the [[War of 1812]]. That war saw the seizing of Detroit by Canada, and the burning of Washington, D.C. by the British. Madison's wife, Dolly, is famously remembered for saving a [[portraits|portrait]] of [[George Washington]] just before the British burned the [[White House]]. In [[hindsight]], the War of 1812 is viewed as a needless mistake, but at the time the [[Federalist Party]]'s opposition to the war (and to Madison's Republicans) led to the Federalists being viewed as "unpatriotic" and "anti-American," and the party disbanded soon after the next election year.

Madison is considered to have been an inadequate President. He failed to resole diplomatically the continuing British seizure of American ships. Instead, he pushed for an unnecessary war, and the U.S. eventually invaded Canada (then still a British colony), in what became known as the War of 1812. That war saw the seizing of Detroit by Canada, and the burning of Washington, D.C. by the British. Madison's wife, Dolly, is famously remembered for saving a [[portraits|portrait]] of [[George Washington]] just before the British burned the [[White House]]. In [[hindsight]], the War of 1812 is viewed as a needless mistake, but at the time the [[Federalist Party]]'s opposition to the war (and to Madison's Republicans) led to the Federalists being viewed as "unpatriotic" and "anti-American," and the party disbanded soon after the next election year.

==Madison on Religion and Government==

==Madison on Religion and Government==

Madison, along with his fellow Democratic-Republican [[Thomas Jefferson]], were less tolerant of religion in government than other [[Founding Fathers]].<ref>Madison did NOT write the false quote:

Madison, along with his fellow Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson, were less tolerant of religion in government than other [[Founding Fathers]].<ref>Madison did NOT write the false quote:

:"Religion is the basis and Foundation of Government.... We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self government; upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."</ref>  Like Jefferson, Madison favored [[separation of church and state]].<ref>[http://www.helium.com/items/501599-the-case-for-separation-of-church-and-state The case for separation of church and state by Michelle Mueller]</ref>

:"Religion is the basis and Foundation of Government.... We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self government; upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."</ref>  Like Jefferson, Madison favored [[separation of church and state]].<ref>[http://www.helium.com/items/501599-the-case-for-separation-of-church-and-state The case for separation of church and state by Michelle Mueller]</ref>

*"History records that the money changers have used every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit, and violent means possible to maintain their control over governments by controlling money and it's issuance."

*"History records that the money changers have used every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit, and violent means possible to maintain their control over governments by controlling money and it's issuance."

*"Crisis is the rallying cry of the tyrant."

*"Crisis is the rallying cry of the tyrant."

*"When we are considering the advantages that may result from an easy mode of naturalization, we ought also to consider the cautions necessary to guard against abuses. It is no doubt very desirable that we should hold out as many inducements as possible for the worthy part of mankind to come and settle amongst us, and throw their fortunes into a common lot with ours. But why is this desirable? Not merely to swell the catalogue of people. No, sir, it is to increase the wealth and strength of the community; and those who acquire the rights of citizenship, without adding to the strength or wealth of the community are not the people we are in want of."<ref>[http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/print_documents/a1_8_4_citizenships8.html House of Representatives, Rule of Naturalization], February 3rd-4th, 1790]</ref>

*"When we are considering the advantages that may result from an easy mode of naturalization, we ought also to consider the cautions necessary to guard against abuses. It is no doubt very desirable that we should hold out as many inducements as possible for the worthy part of mankind to come and settle amongst us, and throw their fortunes into a common lot with ours. But why is this desirable? Not merely to swell the catalogue of people. No, sir, it is to increase the wealth and strength of the community; and those who acquire the rights of citizenship, without adding to the strength or wealth of the community are not the people we are in want of."<ref>[http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/print_documents/a1_8_4_citizenships8.html House of Representatives, Rule of Naturalization], February 3rd-4th, 1790</ref>

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==