James Madison Pre-Constitutional Convention
Was born on March 16, 1751, in Port Conway, Virginia at his maternal grandmother's home Parents were James Madison Sr. and Nellie Conway Madison Father was a Planter for his plantation and a very influential person in the county affairs He was the oldest of twelve children (only seven lived to adulthood) Was raised on his family plantation (Montpelier) in Orange County, Virginia, near the Blue Ridge Mountains Plantation founded by grandfather in 1723 had 100 slaves and 2600 acres In 1762 he was sent to boarding school run by Donald Robertson School was located in King and Queen County, Virginia He left after 5 years because his father pulled him out Father was concerned of his health and wanted him home He was then privately tutored for two years At 18 left to go to College of New Jersey (Princeton) selected for its hostility to episcopacy In college he studied Greek, science and philosophy and graduated in 1771 He stayed long though to continue his studies with Reverend John Witherspoon who was the school president Was never a part of the church "His overwork produced several years of epileptoid hysteria and premonitions of early death" After college he was interested in relationship between American colonies and British By then british taxation was a big problem The Revolutionary war starts 1775-1783 He was appointed a colonel in the Orange County militia Gave up his military career for a political one He represented Orange County in the Virginia convention of 1776 which included a guarantee to religious freedom Became friends with Thomas Jefferson and George Mason Worked with George Mason to draft the constitution of Virginia Became a member of the continental Congress in 1780 Constitutional Convention Notes 1780 becomes Virginia delegate to the CC in Philly Left congress in 1783 to return to the Virginia assembly although he would be called back to help create a new constitution Called father of the constitution In 1776 Articles of Confederation were the first created constitution But it left the congress weak with too much power to the individual *Should power rest in the states or the national govt? How much power should the leaders have and what type of leaders should there be? How should we select the leaders?
*How should the govt be structured? How much power in each branch and what are the specifics for each branch?
"Madison, after undertaking an extensive study of other world governments, came to the conclusion that America needed a strong federal government in order to help regulate the state legislatures and create a better system for raising federal money. He felt the government should be set up with a system of checks and balances so no branch had greater power over the other. Madison also suggested that governors and judges have enhanced roles in government in order to help manage the state legislatures." Also look at 15 resolutions Virginia Plan...
