In the history of the United States, there have been many presidents who have had a significant impact on the development of this country over the next decades. A good example is James Madison. He was the fourth ruler of the United States.
Basic biographical information
Born 1751, died 1836. The fourth president is still famous in the United States, as he was one of the creators of the Constitution of this state. It is believed that he was born in the town of Port Conway (Virginia). It happened on March 16, 1751. Education James Madison initially receives private (like many in his time). In 1769, he easily entered Princeton University.
At that time, this educational institution was called the College of New Jersey. College graduation - 1771. At the same time, he becomes a member of the Whig discussion club, which predetermines his further political career and convictions. With him, the history of the United States practically begins anew, since Madison did a lot to create a fully functional and thoughtful power structure.
The beginning of a political career
For the first time, a future US presidentattracts the attention of revolutionaries in 1775. He is appointed chairman of the Revolutionary Security Committee in Orange County. At the same time, Madison is becoming widely known as the author of various pamphlets and speeches, in which he stigmatizes the British government in every possible way.
No wonder that in 1776 he was appointed chairman of the revolutionary committee from Virginia. It is he who prepares the draft resolution on rights, and also does a lot in the field of organizing state administration. By the way, James Madison is also very famous in church circles, since it was this person who insisted on the complete separation of the church from government first by the state, and then by the state.
Also created the first government of Virginia and was a prominent member of the first assembly. Nevertheless, he was not elected for a second term, but in 1777 the future president was a member of the governor's council. What else is remarkable about James Madison? Democracy, in his person, acquired a politician who did a lot to shape this socio-political system in the form that we know today.
Continental Congress
After only three years, he is elected permanent representative of his home state to the Continental Congress. In the period from 1780 to 1783, he was a very active participant in it, having done a lot for the work of this entire organization. It was James Madison who is considered the author of numerous amendments that gave Congress the right to collect taxes from all states, as well as to distribute interest on the national debt.on them, according to the number of inhabitants. In addition, James passionately advocated complete freedom of navigation on the Mississippi River.
Other political merit
For these merits, he is elected chairman of the House of Deputies for all of Virginia. In 1786, he achieved the passage of a law on complete freedom of religion, and also achieved the complete independence of the state from the church. The latter did not add fans to Madison, but allowed to significantly weaken the influence of Great Britain on the young state.
In the same year, he becomes the "instigator" of the Constitutional Congress in Philadelphia, and goes there as a representative of his state. Largely thanks to the work of Madison, the US Constitution of 1787 was created and ratified, which Americans remember every year.
Constitutional activity
Since Madison was a very calm and self-confident person, he was able to quickly earn the respect and trust of many deputies. He played the role of an intermediary between conservatives and supporters of a new, federal government that could make the country stronger. The House of Deputies in Virginia unanimously recommended James to the Confederate Parliament, and therefore in 1787-88 he works in New York. He is writing a series of papers advocating for a new constitution.
Thus, the US Constitution of 1787 was created with the direct participation of this smart and assertive man who knew how to negotiate and “punch through” his own ideas even in an environment that categorically did not accept them.
Variousviews on systems of government
All of these materials, signed with the pseudonym "Publius", were published in the form of a book with the title "Federalist", published before the very procedure for ratifying the constitution. Today this edition is known as James Madison, Papers of a Federalist. It was in this work that Madison first formulated those postulates that today are considered to be the basis of modern pluralism.
Also, the future president advocated a republican form of government, arguing that it was this kind of power that would create a large and dynamically developing state. It can be said that the history of the United States, which is studied in American schools today, began with this person. If before Madison it was rather not about an independent state, but about a community of revolutionaries, then his activities forced other players in the international arena (including Great Britain) to reckon with the young country.
The road to the presidency
In 1788, Madison was elected to the ratification committee from Virginia. His supporters understood that the country urgently needed just such a person: the calmness and perseverance of the future president were essential to ratify the constitution. At the same time, an important quality of Madison was the ability to negotiate. He was able to convince even ardent opponents of a constitutional state by having the ten points, today known as the Bill of Rights, included in the document.
Along with Jefferson, he creates the first Republican Party to play the roleopposition bloc. Jefferson, soon to be president, has not forgotten Madison's role. He appoints his associate Secretary of State, in whose post he stayed from 1801 to 1809. Historians have no doubt that James had a considerable influence on the development of the country at that time, as Jefferson constantly consulted with him.
Thus, James Madison advocated the idea of creating a form of government in the United States called a constitutional republic.
How did he become president?
He was elected President of the United States in 1808. Before that, a kind of “competition” was held within the Republican Party itself, designed to help nominate the most promising candidate. Oddly enough, Madison never made a campaign speech, and supporters in the party achieved his popularization. As in many cases, James managed to negotiate with some of the opponents of his nomination by making 60-year-old George Clinton vice president.
This was done only as a tribute, because this person simply physically could not fulfill his direct duties. Already in 1812, he was replaced by Elbridge Gerry, who proved himself as a competent professional as vice president.
The main achievements of the new president
In 1808, the Americans had one topic to discuss - talk about the damage that the trade embargo of 1807, adopted by Great Britain and its satellites, causes them. Exports fell sharply, many goods had to be exportedsmuggled, which is why their value is significantly reduced. The shipowners demanded that transportation be urgently resumed, otherwise the entire transport system would have fallen into disrepair within just a couple of years. James Madison (his domestic policy was distinguished by balance) did a lot to minimize the damage, developing internal trade and gradually achieving the removal of the embargo.
A lot of Madison's government program relied on so-called "Frugal government." In particular, he believed that in the event of a possible military conflict, the constitution should not interfere with the independent work of the states, but on the condition that their activities do not harm the central federal government. Madison's attitude towards the Indians was also very remarkable, with whom he sympathized and offered to provide assistance, including monetary compensation! For that time it was really a breakthrough, but this idea did not receive the approval of the party majority.
Focus on agriculture and manufacturing
Madison fully shared Jefferson's beliefs about the highest value of agriculture, but also recognized that the further expansion and strengthening of the United States would be impossible without a strong industrial base. It was the development of agriculture and industrial production that characterized almost the entire time of his reign.
What led to the war with Great Britain?
The desire to reach an agreement has not always been good for this president. So, forming a new government, he was inis largely bound by its contractual obligations, and therefore this body in many respects included very mediocre managers. The only exception was Albert Gallatin, who remained from the composition of the old government. Even Robert Smith from Maryland was able to get into the State Department, who in 1811 urgently needed to be replaced by James Monroe due to utter insolvency and, possibly, dementia.
But still, James Madison (whose political views differed in breadth) showed himself to be quite an energetic and decisive ruler. It was he who in 1810 openly announced the expansion of West Florida, which had previously belonged to the Spanish crown. Shortly thereafter, the rebels, without further ado, seized Spanish territory and proclaimed the establishment of a republic. As early as 1811, the president announced that the United States had claims to East Florida as well. In the end, it was possible to agree with the Spaniards … but not with the British, who in every possible way interfered with this process. Because of their stubbornness, a war started.
But at the same time, the president was sharply against such a development of events. James Madison, whose quotes are still studied in American schools, said the following on this occasion: “Of all the enemies of public liberty, war should be most feared, for in it the germs of all others are contained and flourish.” Nevertheless, I still had to fight.
Start of war
In the middle of 1812, the United States received a message from the British Foreign Minister that his country was not going to unilaterally lift the trade blockade. ATIn principle, Napoleon was also busy with the same thing, and therefore the Americans could declare war on two European powers at once. But prudence still won.
From the British, the threat came more clearly, and the young state would obviously not have drawn a war on two fronts. At the beginning of the summer, James Madison (whose biography we are briefly considering) tells Parliament that it will be necessary to declare war on Great Britain, which … threatens the unity and the very fact of the existence of the American nation. It was recognized that the confiscation of American ships, the kidnapping and murder of US citizens, and the incitement of Indian tribes were crimes subject to universal condemnation. Despite the decision to declare war, it was not easy.
The session of the Congress was held behind closed doors, journalists and reporters were not allowed, as the issue under discussion was too serious. There were quite a few opponents of the war among the members of parliament and government, who spoke of the "lack of money, professional soldiers, military taxes." Despite this, at the end of June 1812, President Madison officially announced the start of hostilities against Great Britain.
Failed truce
Oddly enough, soon the British announced the suspension of the trade blockade, after which the US government proposed a truce. Madison himself demanded an unconditional cessation of hostilities at sea, the release of captured sailors, and an end to the robbery of coastal cities. But already at the end of 1812, Great Britain rejected all these conditions, after which the warcontinued.
The Central States were extremely dissatisfied with the ongoing hostilities. Therefore, in the winter of that year, a commission was created to re-elect Madison. But this failed, although not a single vote was cast for the president from the central states. In 1814, after two years of war, the position of the Americans worsened even more, as Napoleon capitulated in Europe. The British were able to transfer the liberated divisions, after which the Capitol and the White House were burned to the ground, and Madison himself and the government fled in a hurry.
The situation, however, was soon rectified, and in 1815 a peace treaty was signed. Soon the president retires, but even there he takes an active part in building a young state. What else is James Madison famous for? The political science of that historical period knows him as a figure who issued a law on the free self-determination of blacks and the right to return everyone to Africa. What is characteristic: there were only a few of them.
