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President James Madison

James Madison

President James Madison: Short biography of President James Madison and the key events during his presidency.

Life of President Fast Fact File
James Madison (1751-1836), nicknamed the "Father of the Bill of Rights", was the 4th American President and served in office from 1809-1817. The Presidency of James Madison spanned the period in United States history that encompasses the events of the Evolution Era. President James Madison represented the Democratic-Republican political party which influenced the domestic and foreign policies of his presidency.

The major accomplishments and the famous, main events that occurred during the time that James Madison was president included the War of 1812, Washington DC was burned (1814) and the Second Barbary War (1815). During his presidency the Cumberland Road was constructed and Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner poem after the British bombardment of Fort McHenry. James Madison died of natural causes on June 28, 1836, aged 85. The next president was James Monroe.  

Birthday: March 16, 1751

Place of Birth: Virginia

Political Party: Democratic-Republican 

Nickname: Father of the Bill of Rights

Number: 4th President

Vice Presidents: George Clinton & Elbridge Gerry

Age at Inauguration: 57

Height: 5 feet 4 inches

Weight: 100lbs

First Lady: Dolley Madison

Religion: Episcopalian

Date of Death: June 28, 1836

Date of James Madison Presidency: March 4, 1809 to March 4, 1817

The Nickname of James Madison: Father of the Bill of Rights
The nickname of President James Madison provides an insight into how the man was viewed by the American public during his presidency. The meaning of the nickname Father of the Bill of Rights refers to his role in creating the Constitution and as the main auth of the amendments  to the Constitution formed the basis of the Bill of Rights. James Madison also had the nicknames of Jemmie or Little Johnny in reference to his small stature

Character and Personality Type of James Madison
The character traits of President James Madison can be described as shy, intelligent, meticulous, ponderous and firm. It has been speculated that the Myers-Briggs personality type for James Madison is an INTP (introversion, intuition, thinking, perceiving). A modest, reserved, stoic character with a preference to work informally with others as equals. James Madison Personality type: Quiet, analytical, impatient and thoughtful.

Accomplishments of James Madison and the Famous Events during his Presidency
The accomplishments of James Madison and the most famous events during his presidency are provided in an interesting, short summary format detailed below.

The War of 1812 and the Treaty of Ghent
Summary of the War of 1812: The
War of 1812 (1812-1814), often referred to as the Second War of Independence,  was fought between the United States and Great Britain. The war lasted for 2 years and 8 months and resulted in a stalemate, but it was a turning point for the US who achieved credibility across the world as a powerful new nation. The Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812 and was signed on December 24, 1814.

The Burning of Washington DC
Summary of the Burning of Washington DC: The
Burning of Washington DC by the British occurred on August 24, 1814, during the War of 1812, in retaliation for the sacking of York and as an attempt to demoralize the American nation. British officers ate dinner at the White House (then referred to as the Executive Mansion) and the British set fire to the White House, the Treasury Department building, the docks and all the public buildings in the capital including the Library of Congress.

The Star Spangled Banner
Summary of the
Star Spangled Banner: There was a surge of American Patriotism during the War of 1812 and the Star Spangled Banner was written on September 14, 1814 by Francis Scott Lee following the US victory at the Battle of Baltimore and the Defence of Fort Henry. The lyrics were written following the US victory at the Battle of Baltimore, in the War of 1812.

Second Bank of the United States
Summary of the Second Bank of the United States: The
Second Bank of the United States was granted a charter in 1816 to manage the massive war debt amounted during the War of 1812.

The Hartford Convention
Summary of the Hartford Convention: The
Hartford Convention was a secret meeting of Federalists in Hartford, Connecticut to express grievances against the administration of President James Madison. The secret convention discredited the Federalist party as the outcome of the War of 1812 was rejoiced by the nation and the Republican party of James Madison gained in popularity with the voters.

The Second Barbary War
Summary of the Second Barbary War: The
Second Barbary War of 1815 (aka the Algerine War) ended in victory for the Americans against the African Pirates of the Barbary States that consisted of  Morocco, Tunis, Tripoli and Algiers.

The Protective Tariff of 1816
Summary of the Protective Tariff of 1816: The Protective Tariff of 1816 was passed in an attempt to persuade Americans to buy home produced goods by
 placing a 20-25 % tax on all foreign goods. The tariff was important as it helped American businesses compete with British and European factories.

Construction of the Cumberland Road
Summary of the Construction of the Cumberland Road: The Construction of the Cumberland Road began in 1811 and ended in 1837 and stretched along 600 miles. It served as a gateway to the West for thousands of settlers in the Northwest Territory.

History of the Turnpikes and Toll Roads
Summary of the
History of the Turnpikes: The process of building roads was very expensive and led to the widespread introduction of Toll Roads, that were called Turnpikes, across the new nation. 

US American History
1801-1828: Evolution Era

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