Last updated on: 5/20/2009 | Author: ProCon.org

James Madison Biography

Title:
Founding Father and Fourth President of the United States
Position:
None Found to the question "Should the Words “under God” Be in the US Pledge of Allegiance?"
Reasoning:

No position found as of Mar. 12, 2008

Theoretical Expertise Ranking:
    Experts
Individuals with JD's, or equivalent advanced degrees in fields relevant to government and constitutional law. Also top-level government officials (such as foreign leaders, US presidents, Founding Fathers, Supreme Court Justices, members of legislative bodies, cabinet members, military leaders, etc.) with positions relevant to government and constitutional law.
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • President of the United States. Succeeded Thomas Jefferson as president, defeating Charles C. Pinckney. Defeated Federalist De Witt Clinton for reelection in 1812, 1809-1817
  • U.S. Secretary of State, 1801-1809
  • Drafted the Virginia Resolution protesting the Alien and Sedition Acts, 1797
  • Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1789-1797
  • Wrote the Federalist Papers in collaboration with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay to aid the campaign for the adoption of the Constitution, 1787-1788
  • Elected member of the U.S. Constitutional Convention, 1785
  • Elected member of the Virginia Assembly, 1784
  • Represented the Commonwealth of Virginia in the U.S. Congress, 1779-1783
  • Elected as a member of the Constitutional Convention of Virginia, participated in the framing of the Virginia Constitution, 1776
Education:
  • Attended Princeton College, 1769-1771
Other:
  • Married Dolley Payne Todd in 1794.