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As part of a family that had been on a steady rise in society since its earliest days in the Virginia colony, James Madison, Jr. was expected to do great things from the time of his birth, but his family could scarcely have imagined the heights to which he would rise. After an accelerated collegiate career and a few initial stumbles as a young man, Madison gradually worked his way into becoming a force in state and national politics. However, as someone not content with ignoring issues in the status quo, Madison would soon find his calling as a champion for innovation. |
1653-1785 |
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After scoring some key political victories in Virginia, Madison decided to lead an effort to reform the government of the United States. However, he would find that getting the Constitutional Convention to agree on a new federal structure was only half the battle, and he would soon acquire some powerful enemies in the ratification campaign. |
1785-1809 |
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Though James Madison was seen as being Thomas Jefferson’s successor, it became clear starting with his inauguration that his presidency would be different from his predecessor’s, for better or worse. While the public got to see a more festive social tone as set by Dolley Madison, behind the scenes, the president struggled to get political support for a key Cabinet nomination. |
1809 |
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In the first couple of months of his presidency, Madison not only dealt with a domestic political dispute but also managed to negotiate an agreement with the British Minister to the US to resolve issues with Great Britain. Unbeknownst to him, however, the continued instability in Europe would keep peace and prosperity just out of reach for his administration. |
1808-1809 |
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4.05 – TBD |
To be released 2022 |
TBD |
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4.06 – TBD |
To be released 2022 |
TBD |
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4.07 – TBD |
To be released 2022 |
TBD |
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4.08 – TBD |
To be released 2022 |
TBD |
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4.09 – TBD |
To be released 2022 |
TBD |
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4.10 – TBD |
To be released 2022 |
TBD |
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4.11 – TBD |
To be released 2022 |
TBD |
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4.12 – TBD |
To be released 2022 |
TBD |
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4.13 – TBD |
To be released 2022 |
TBD |
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4.14 – TBD |
To be released 2022 |
TBD |
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4.15 – TBD |
To be released 2022 |
TBD |
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4.16 – TBD |
To be released 2022 |
TBD |
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4.17 – Madison Post-Presidency |
To be released 2022 |
TBD |
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4.18 – Madison Q&A |
To be released 2022 |
TBD |
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Some other sources for learning about our fourth president available online include:
- James Madison’s Montpelier [Madison’s home] (Montpelier Foundation)
- The Miller Center’s guide to the life and presidency of James Madison (University of Virginia)
- James Madison: A Resource Guide (Library of Congress)
- The Papers of James Madison at Founders Online
- Plodding Through the Presidents – a more light-hearted take on various aspects of Madison’s life
- Presidential – James Madison: Burning Down the House (Washington Post)
- American Presidents: Totalus Rankium
- [Abridged] Presidential Histories – James Madison (1809-1817)
- Civics & Coffee
- The Presiquential Podcast – The Realist: James Madison
- FLOTUS Podcast – Dolley Madison
- C-SPAN
Featured Image: James Madison by Gilbert Stuart (c. 1821) courtesy of the National Gallery of Art and Wikipedia
| 03: Thomas Jefferson | 04: James Madison | 05: James Monroe |