James+Madison

​​Karl Hersh

James Madison




 * __//INTRODUCTION//__**

The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia in May 1787. Fifty five delegates met to discuss the existing problems of the Articles of Confederation. Under the existing article states were not forced to pay state taxes, no court system was in place and there was no chief excutive. The delegates wanted to frame a government that could serve the needs of the nation without creating any kind of tyranny. It was a challenge to bring all the states together without letting one state or branch of government have too much power.
 * //__BACKGROUND INFO__//**

James Madison was born on March 16,1751. He was the eldest of 12 children and grew up in Virginia on a plantation. Madison was an able student and completed college in just two years at what is now Princeton University. He hoped at first to study for the ministry but turned to politics because of a weak speaking voice. While at Princeton he demonstrated special interest in government and law. Madison served in the Lower House of Virginia in 1776 and from 1783-1786. He also served in the Upper House of Virginia in 1778. James Madison belonged to several committees such as the Third Committee of Representation, Committee of Slave Trade, and Committee of Style. He represented the state of Virginia at the Constitutional Convention.




 * //__ROLE AT THE CONSTITUTION__//**

James Madison was considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was often called the "Father of the Constitution" for the central role he played in developing this important historical document. He is best know for writing the Virginia Plan and for taking excellent notes at the Constitutional Convention which he kept in a journal. It is from this document that historians have been able to learn how the central government was created. He also contributed to the Federalists Papers and played a key part in drafting the Bill of Rights. James Madison was looked upon as both a scholar and politician.


 * //__DBQ__//**

James Madison had many views on various subjects of the Constitution. He believed in Federalism. James Madison's idea of division of power between central and state governments is known as Federalism. He supported Separation of Powers. He said "Liberty requires that the three great departments of power should be separate and distinct." He supported checks and balances. He said: 'The constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner as that they may be a check on the other." He supported equality of the states in the Senate and population proportion in the House. He said "The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof for six years and each senator shall have one role." James Maidson had many views on these four subjects of the Constitution.


 * //__ATTENDANCE RECORD__//**

James Madison went to every meeting for the Constitutional Convention. He realized the importance of these meetings and had strong opinions for a strong national government. He was dedicated and wanted to frame a Constitution that would represent all of the different states. He wasn't just concerned about his state of Virginia. His perfect attendance record shows how important this Constitution was to him and his committment to hard work.

**//__Attendanace Record for Constitutional Convention Delegates__//**
 * ||  ||   ||   || ** Present ** ||   ||   ||   || ** Absent ** ||   ||   ||   || ** Do Not Know ** ||   ||   ||   || ** Probably Present ** ||   ||   ||   || ** Probably Absent ** ||


 * ** Act 1 ** ||  ||   ||   || x ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||


 * ** Act 2 ** ||  ||   ||   || x ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||


 * ** Act 3 ** ||  ||   ||   || x ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||


 * ** Act 4 ** ||  ||   ||   || x ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||


 * ** Totals ** ||  ||   ||   || 89 ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||


 * **% ** ||  ||   ||   || 100% ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||

CONSTITUTIONAL CONNECTION__//**
 * //__PRIMARY SOURCES

Section 2 of the Constitution talks about the House of Respresentatives. The House of Respresentatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states and the Electors. James Madison was in agreement with the idea that the House of Representative should be determined by population. He also believed that the members of the House of Representatives should only serve a 2 year term. By setting limits others would have the opportunity to serve. He also agreed with the idea that the House of Respresentatives shall choose their speaker and other officials and have the sole Power of Impeachment. James Madison was for all these points of the Constitution and the House of Representatives.

THE 3RD AMENDMENT__//**
 * //__BILL OF RIGHTS

James Madison thought that soldiers shouldn't stay in people's homes without the owner's consent. The British soldiers slept in their homes and ate their meals. The writers of The Bill of Rights wanted to make sure that this could never happen again so the Third Amendment was added to the Constitiution. Colonists were outraged and the more they upset the British government the more they were punished by having soldiers forced into their homes. James Madison voted for he Third Amendment to be put into The Bill of Rights.



**//__Work Cited __//**

"Constitutional Convention." //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 30 Apr. 2010. [|http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com].
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O'Brien, Steven G. "James Madison." //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 30 Apr. 2010. [|http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com].
"Virginia Plan (1787)." //American History//. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 3 May 2010. .