On March 16, 1751, James Madison was born into a prominent family in Port Conway, Virginia. Madison, who would become the fourth president of the United States, graduated from the College of New Jersey, today Princeton University, in 1771. In 1776, as the nation declared its independence from Great Britain, the 25-year-old Madison helped draft the Virginia Constitution and was a member of the Continental Congress. His greatest political role, perhaps surpassing even his presidency, came in helping to craft the new United States Constitution in 1787. Madison authored both the Bill of Rights and the Virginia Plan, which provided for the three branches of government critical to the political structure we know today.
As president, Madison’s greatest challenge came with the War of 1812. The war stemmed from several causes, including American outrage over British impressment of sailors. As the British need for sailors grew during the Napoleonic Wars, British ships began searching American vessels and forcing deserters and even those born in Britain who had immigrated to the United States into the service of the Royal Navy. There were also tensions over American expansion, as the British helped arm American Indians in the Northwest Territory in an effort to prevent the United States from controlling the region. Popular support for the war was weak, especially in New England and along the Canadian border. In 1815, after several major victories and defeats on both sides, Britain and the United States made peace with the Treaty of Ghent. After his presidency, Madison retired to Montpelier, Virginia, where he died on June 28, 1836.
Opening History offers several collections related to James Madison and the early history of the United States. The Library of Congress Cartoon Prints, American, collection offers depictions of Madison and the Founding Fathers, while the LOUISiana Digital Library’s America at War collection contains primary materials on the War of 1812, including the Battle of New Orleans.
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