James Madison Biography

Birth of James Madison

Publication of "Remonstrances Against Religious Assessments"

At the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia Madisons draft of the Virginia Plan and his revolutionary three-branch federal system becomes the basis for the American Constitution of today

At the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia Madisons draft of the Virginia Plan and his revolutionary three-branch federal system becomes the basis for the American Constitution of today

Writes over a third of the Federalist Papers, still the most influential commentary on the Constitution

Writes over a third of the Federalist Papers, still the most influential commentary on the Constitution. Madison joins Alexander Hamilton and John Jay to write the The Federalist Papers

Elected to the new United States House of Representatives and becomes an important leader from the First Congress to the 4th Congress

Elected to the new United States House of Representatives and becomes an important leader from the First Congress to the 4th Congress

The last ten of Madisons proposed amendments are ratified and become the Bill of Rights

The last ten of Madisons proposed amendments are ratified and become the Bill of Rights

The last ten of Madisons proposed amendments are ratified and become the Bill of Rights

Madison and Thomas Jefferson organize what they called the republican party (later called the Democratic Republican Party) in opposition to key policies of the Federalists, especially the national bank and the Jay Treaty

The last ten of Madisons proposed amendments are ratified and become the Bill of Rights

Works with Thomas Jefferson in organizing opposition to Federalist policies

Ten amendments based on Madison's proposals are ratified as the Bill of Rights

Madison leads the unsuccessful attempt to block Alexander Hamiltons proposed Bank of the United States, arguing the new Constitution did not explicitly allow the federal Government to form a bank

To oppose the Federalists, Madison and Jefferson organize the Democratic Republican Party. Madison leads the unsuccessful attempt to block Alexander Hamiltons proposed Bank of the United States, arguing the new Constitution did not explicitly allow the federal Government to form a bank. All across the country, voters divided for and against the Jay Treaty and other key issues, and thus became Federalists or Democratic Republicans

George Washington avoids a trade war with Britain and secures friendly trade relations with through the Jay Treaty, a Treaty that Madison tried but failed to defeat

George Washington avoids a trade war with Britain and secures friendly trade relations with through the Jay Treaty, a Treaty that Madison tried but failed to defeat. All across the country, voters divided for and against the Jay Treaty and other key issues, and thus became Federalists or Democratic Republicans

Secretly co-authores, along with Thomas Jefferson, the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions in 1798 to protest the Alien and Sedition Acts

Secretly co-authores, along with Thomas Jefferson, the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions in 1798 to protest the Alien and Sedition Acts

Secretly co-authores, along with Thomas Jefferson, the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions in 1798 to protest the Alien and Sedition Acts

The party's Congressional Caucus chose presidential candidates, and Madison is selected in the election of 1808, easily defeating Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, riding on the coattails of Jeffersons popularity

Madison declares war on Britain, in an attempt to gain Canada from the British

Appointed President of the USA, 4th President

Madison declares war on Britain, in an attempt to gain Canada from the British

The US passes the Non-Intercourse Act against British commerce

The US passes the Non-Intercourse Act against British commerce

Madison recommends war against Britain in Congress

Declares war on Britain. America is subject to British coastal raids & the destruction of Washington

After Madison convinced Congress to declare war, Madison is re-elected President over DeWitt Clinton but by a smaller margin than in 1808

The British & Canadians winn numerous victories, including the capture of Detroit after the American General there surrenders to a smaller force without a fight

The attack of Detroit & Washington DC is in retaliation for a US invasion of York, Upper Canada (now Toronto, Ontario), in which US forces twice occupy the city, burning the Parliament Buildings of Upper Canada

The attack of Detroit & Washington DC is in retaliation for a US invasion of York, Upper Canada (now Toronto, Ontario), in which US forces twice occupy the city, burning the Parliament Buildings of Upper Canada. British occupation of Washington, D.C. which forces Madison to flee the city and watch as the White House is set on fire by British troops

America is subject to British coastal raids & the destruction of Washington

The US declares a 90 day embargo in preparation for war with Britain

At sea, the British blockade the entire coastline, cutting off both foreign trade and domestic trade between ports

New England Federalists set up a defeatist Hartford Convention that discusses secession

The Americans build warships on the Great Lakes faster than the British and defeat the British fleet to avert a major invasion of New York

The British blockade restricts foreign commerce and also disrupts coastal trade between American ports.

Supports the creation of the second National Bank, a strong military, and a high tariff to protect the new factories opened during the war

The US Senate unanimously approves the Treaty of Ghent

President James Madison exchanges ratification papers with a British diplomat in Washington

Madison signs the charter creating the Second Bank of the United States.