Life of James Madison
Tiara McCurtis

Childhood:
Born on March 16, 1751, in Port Conway, Virginia, James Madison wrote the first drafts of the U.S. Constitution, co-wrote the Federalist Papers and sponsored the Bill of Rights. He established the Democrat-Republican Party with President Thomas Jefferson, and became president himself in 1808. Madison initiated the War of 1812, and served two terms in the White House with first lady Dolley Madison. He died on June 28, 1836, at the Montpelier estate in Orange County, Virginia.

Adulthood: In 1787, Madison represented Virginia at the Constitution Convention. He was a federalist at heart, thus campaigned for a strong central government. In the Virginia Plan, he expressed his ideas about forming a three-part federal government, consisting of executive, legislative and judicial branches. He thought it was important for this new structure to have a system of checks and balances, in order to prevent the abuse of power by any one group.

GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Co-authored the Federalist Papers and was instrumental in the drafting of the Constitution and Bill of Rights
• Helped establish the Democratic-Republican Party with Jefferson
• Renewed the charter for the Bank of the United States to raise funds for the War of 1812

BY:TIARA MCCURTIS