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{{Infobox_officeholder | name=James Madison

{{Infobox officeholder | name=James Madison

| nationality=American

| nationality=American

| image=James Madison.jpg

| image=James Madison(cropped)(c).jpg

| order=4th [[President of the United States]]

| order=4th [[President of the United States]]

| term_start=March 4, 1809

| term_start=March 4, 1809

| party=[[United States Democratic-Republican Party|Democratic-Republican]]

| party=[[United States Democratic-Republican Party|Democratic-Republican]]

| vicepresident=[[George Clinton (politician)|George Clinton]]; [[Elbridge Gerry]]

| vicepresident=[[George Clinton (politician)|George Clinton]]; [[Elbridge Gerry]]

 

| signature=James Madison sig.svg

| signature=James Madison sig.svg

}}

}}

'''James Madison''' (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836) was the fourth [[President of the United States]]. He was also the most important author of the [[United States Constitution]]. Madison was the shortest President, with a height of {{convert|5|ft| 4|in|abbr=off|sp=us}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/people/james-madison.htm|title=James Madison|publisher=NPS.org|accessdate=November 4, 2013}}</ref>

'''James Madison Jr.''' (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836) was the fourth [[President of the United States]]. He was also the most important author of the [[United States Constitution]]. Madison was the shortest President, with a height of {{convert|5|ft| 4|in|abbr=off|sp=us}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/people/james-madison.htm|title=James Madison|publisher=NPS.org|accessdate=November 4, 2013}}</ref>

== Family ==

== Family ==

 

James Madison Jr. was the eldest son of Col. [[James Madison Sr.]] and Nellie Conway Madison.

Madison was the oldest of twelve children. His father and mother were James Madison Sr. and Nellie Conway.

Madison married Dolley Todd (née Payne) on  April 18, 1794.

Madison married Dolley Todd (née Payne) on  April 18, 1794.

== Political life ==

== Political life ==

Madison started his career in the [[Virginia]] state legislature.  Madison learned many things from [[Thomas Jefferson]].  Madison wanted a strong [[federal government of the United States]]. He was a member of the meeting that formed the current [[United States Constitution]].  Madison is called the "Father of the Constitution" because he helped write a large part of it.  Madison helped to get people to approve the Constitution.

Madison started his career in the [[Virginia]] state legislature.  Madison learned many things from [[Thomas Jefferson]].  Madison wanted a stronger [[federal government of the United States]] than the [[Articles of Confederation]] provided. He was a member of the meeting that formed the current [[United States Constitution]].  Madison is called the "Father of the Constitution" because he helped write a large part of it and persuaded people that it was a good one.

Madison was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]].  Madison helped write the first laws for the United States.  Madison also was the main writer of the [[Bill of Rights]], the first 10 amendments to the Constitution.

Madison was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]].  Madison helped write the first laws for the United States.  Madison also was the main writer of the [[Bill of Rights]], the first 10 amendments to the Constitution.

Madison was selected by his political party to be the Democratic-Republican candidate for president in 1808.  He won that election and the next election in 1812.

Madison was selected by his political party to be the Democratic-Republican candidate for president in 1808.  He won that election and the next election in 1812.

The [[War of 1812]] started while Madison was president. Madison still hoped for peace, but Congress wanted war so he gave in and approved a declaration of war against Britain on June 18, 1812. The war caused Madison to want a stronger government than he had before.

The [[War of 1812]] started while Madison was president. Madison still hoped for peace, but Congress wanted war so he gave in and approved a declaration of war against Britain on June 18, 1812. People who still wanted peace called it "Mr Madison's War". Madison and his family were forced to flee in 1814 when British forces seized control of Washington D.C and burned the White House, and many other buildings, to the ground. Dolly Madison, his wife, famously saved a portrait of [[George Washington]] from the fire.

 

While he originally was against a national bank, Madison realized that it was necessary and it was impossible to fund a war without it. When the government's national bank expired, Madison renewed it.

Best known during the [[War of 1812]], James Madison's wife - Dolly Madison - saved a potrait of [[George Washington]].

The war caused Madison to want a stronger government than he had before. While he originally was against a [[national bank]], he realized that it was necessary and it was necessary for funding a war.  When the charter of the national bank expired, Madison renewed it.

== Later life ==

== Later life ==

[[Category:Presidents of the United States]]

[[Category:Presidents of the United States]]

[[Category:United States Secretaries of State]]

[[Category:United States Secretaries of State]]

[[Category:United States representatives]]

[[Category:United States representatives from Virginia]]

[[Category:Founding Fathers of the United States]]

[[Category:Founding Fathers of the United States]]

[[Category:Democratic Republican party (US) politicians]]

[[Category:Democratic Republican party (US) politicians]]

[[Category:Politicians from Virginia]]

[[Category:19th-century American politicians]][[Category:18th-century American politicians]]