JAMES MADISON

CHILDHOOD/EDUCATION

• Born March 16, 1751
• Went to Princeton University
• Son of Colonel James Madison
• ^owner of tobacco plantation
• Oldest of 12

KNOWN AS:

• Father of the constitution
• Father of the Bill of Rights
• America's 1st graduate student
• Father of the University of VA

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

• Arrived 11 days early
• Wanted to design a govt that was both strong and republic
• Wrote letters to Jefferson & Washington beforehand explaining his ideas for the govt
• Stood and spoke over 100 times
• Kept notes that are the best record of what went on inside the closed doors

BILL OF RIGHTS

• Drafted the Bill of Rights
• Limited the amendments to guarantees of individual rights
• Left the federal framework the same
• Excluded the statement "all men are created equal"
• Feared any finite list of rights would later be abused to deny any left out

CONSTITUTION

• Federalist:in favor of the ratification
• Helped create it
• Signed it