"The Avalon Project". Yale Law School Lillian Goldman Law Library. 11-25-08 http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/vatexta.asp.
Historians have proved that James Madison produced the Virginia Plan, but Edmund Randolph proposed it during the convention. In the personal notes of James Madison it explains that the plan would consist of a National Legislature that would have two branches. The first branch would be elected by the people and the second branch would be elected by the people of the first. When arriving at the debate of the Executive Branch, Edmund Randolph stated, "that a National Executive be instituted; to be chosen by the National Legislature for the term of years, 5" Obviously, the part was not used in the Constitution, but the first half of this plan is an important key to the government we know today.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
7th Annotation
Ketcham, Ralph. James Madison: A Biography. New York: Library of Congress Catologing-in-Publication Data, 1990
Back in that time and age it was very common for people to marry their relatives, usually first cousins. The author of this book indicates because of this form of marriage Madison's family was very expansive. When sitting in at the first Virgina Covention in 1776 he found that the "connections through Edmund Pendleton and Patrick Henry were very useful" These connections also expanded to the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
Back in that time and age it was very common for people to marry their relatives, usually first cousins. The author of this book indicates because of this form of marriage Madison's family was very expansive. When sitting in at the first Virgina Covention in 1776 he found that the "connections through Edmund Pendleton and Patrick Henry were very useful" These connections also expanded to the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
6th Annotation
Mcdonald, Forrest. Novus Ordo Seclorum: The Intellectual Origin of the Constitution. Kansas: University Press of Kansas, October 1986.
The author of this book examines how Madison's ideas were rejected more than half that were proposed. A quote that speaks about Mcdonald's feelings towards Madison contributions would be "Overall, of seventy-one specific proposals that Madison moved, seconded, or spoke unequivocally in regard to, he was on the losing side forty times." This shows how some historians didn't think Madison lived up to what he's made out to be.
The author of this book examines how Madison's ideas were rejected more than half that were proposed. A quote that speaks about Mcdonald's feelings towards Madison contributions would be "Overall, of seventy-one specific proposals that Madison moved, seconded, or spoke unequivocally in regard to, he was on the losing side forty times." This shows how some historians didn't think Madison lived up to what he's made out to be.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Research paper rough draft (still writing)
In 1787, the Constitutional Convention took place at Independence Hall, the same place the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. James Madison was one of the 55 delegates to attend. Later on James Madison was given the title " father of the Constitution" for his hard dedicated work for ratifying the Constitution in Virginia, producing the Virginia plan and his contributions for introducing the first amendments, which are now known as the Bill of Rights. However, today historians argue could Madison's contributions be great enough to make him Father of the Constitution, had he really lived up to the remarkable things said about him?
James Madison was born into a high class family in Port Conway, Virginia. According to a website "American President" Madison was the oldest of 12 siblings when he entered the College of New Jersey, later known as Princeton. He graduated in 1771, completing a four year degree in two years, which showed his perseverance and intelligence. (http://millercenter.org) Later after his graduation, he studied theology, history, and law on his own. From the source The Federalist: Biography of James Madison, I learned that "After keeping to himself for three years, his public career began in 1774 when he was appointed a member of the King George County Committee for Public Safety in Virginia at the age of 23." (www.leftjustified.org)
James Madison's major impact on history would be his contributions during the Constitutional Convention; this is what he's known for. However, these contributions would never be possible if it weren't for his experience as a member of the Virginia constitutional committee in 1776 and as an elected official to represent Virginia to the Continental Congress in 1779. Also, Madison's years of studying prepared him and gave him his ideas, which he could voice.
Why was it so crucial to have an immediate Constitutional Convention that would make a brand new but stable government? First, the United States was having a considerable amount of economic troubles repaying its debts to the French and Spanish. Also, the textbook American Pageant explains that " the Patriots often confiscated Loyalists property and resold it to raise money." (American Pageant, Chapter 8) Therefore, the government needed to be stable so it could reimburse Loyalists for property losses during the Revolutionary War. Second, many people were worried about having too strong a central government. They were afraid it would result in another monarchy, like the one they just struggled to separate from. Meanwhile, the Articles of Confederation, America’s first attempt to self govern, was too weak to be enforced. As stated in the article of "Godfather of the Constitution" James Madison felt that the "Articles needed replacing, not amending." (www.earlyamerica.com) There needed to be a balance between a strong central government and a weak one. Finally, with the westward expansion growing rapidly, the government needed to decide if the west would have slavery or not. These economic political, and geographic challenges made it essential to create a stronger and lasting government. James Madison, delegate for Virginia, helped shape and organize the document that has remained America's government for over the past 221 years.
"Overall, of seventy-one specific proposals that Madison moved, seconded, or spoke unequivocally in regard to," Forrest McDonald author of Novus Ordo Seclorum wrote, "he was on the losing side forty times." (Mcdonald, Pg 207) The two issues that were most essential to Madison were the right of the federal government to veto state laws and have both houses in Congress be elected proportionally. Both of these significant issues were denied by the other delegates at the Constitutional Convention. This outcome may thwart the idea of Madison being the most influential leader. When referring back to the website "The Federalist: James Madison"Historians can debate that George Washington could be the Constitution's true father, because of his appointment by Virginia to lend prestige to the effort the Constitutional Convention. (www.leftjustified.org) However, it can be argued that Madison was the leader. For instance, when the convention started he was the first one to trigger the dispute of representation by stating " a change in the principle of representation is the first step this Convention has to take before it can determine exactly what the national government will do" (Rakove, Pg 68), the idea he had in mind would change the course of America: The Virginia Plan.
Initially, Edmund Randolph was the one who proposed the Virginia Plan to the Constitutional Convention, but Madison was the key man who produced it. The Article " Virginia Plan" explains that the Virginia Plan would consist of "three branches with checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power. In its amended form, this page of Madison's plan shows his ideas for a legislature. It describes 2 houses: one with members elected by the people for 3-year terms and the other composed of older leaders elected by the state legislatures for 7-year terms. Both would use population as a basis for dividing seats among the states." (www.classbrain.com) This plan was an important source for what is now called The Great Compromise.
The ratification of the Constitution by Virginia was doubtful. Gary Wills's book, James Madison describe how James Madison overcame Patrick Herny's stand against the Constitution. The book states that " Henry played expertly on the fears of sending a representative off to a distant place, without the clogs of short terms, instruction, recall and so on" (Wills, Pg 36) However, Madison believed everyone had a better nature than what Henry claimed.
All sources indicate that James Madison initially believed that the Constitution did not need a Bill of Rights. He even said in letter to the House of Representatives"I should be unwilling to see a door opened for a re-consideration of the whole structure of the government, for a re-consideration of the principles and the substance of the powers given; because I doubt, if such a door was opened, if we should be very likely to stop at that point which would be safe to the government itself..." What he thought was if the delegates started making changes it would end ruining the document they just created. According to the article "James Madison Proposes Bill of Rights" it says "ames Madison had not believed that a bill of rights was required for the new government. However, during the ratification process, several states had called for a bill of rights, and Madison felt it was his obligation, his duty, to propose one." Today what we know as the Bill of Rights was written and proposed by Virginia delegate, James Madison, father of the Constitution.
James Madison was born into a high class family in Port Conway, Virginia. According to a website "American President" Madison was the oldest of 12 siblings when he entered the College of New Jersey, later known as Princeton. He graduated in 1771, completing a four year degree in two years, which showed his perseverance and intelligence. (http://millercenter.org) Later after his graduation, he studied theology, history, and law on his own. From the source The Federalist: Biography of James Madison, I learned that "After keeping to himself for three years, his public career began in 1774 when he was appointed a member of the King George County Committee for Public Safety in Virginia at the age of 23." (www.leftjustified.org)
James Madison's major impact on history would be his contributions during the Constitutional Convention; this is what he's known for. However, these contributions would never be possible if it weren't for his experience as a member of the Virginia constitutional committee in 1776 and as an elected official to represent Virginia to the Continental Congress in 1779. Also, Madison's years of studying prepared him and gave him his ideas, which he could voice.
Why was it so crucial to have an immediate Constitutional Convention that would make a brand new but stable government? First, the United States was having a considerable amount of economic troubles repaying its debts to the French and Spanish. Also, the textbook American Pageant explains that " the Patriots often confiscated Loyalists property and resold it to raise money." (American Pageant, Chapter 8) Therefore, the government needed to be stable so it could reimburse Loyalists for property losses during the Revolutionary War. Second, many people were worried about having too strong a central government. They were afraid it would result in another monarchy, like the one they just struggled to separate from. Meanwhile, the Articles of Confederation, America’s first attempt to self govern, was too weak to be enforced. As stated in the article of "Godfather of the Constitution" James Madison felt that the "Articles needed replacing, not amending." (www.earlyamerica.com) There needed to be a balance between a strong central government and a weak one. Finally, with the westward expansion growing rapidly, the government needed to decide if the west would have slavery or not. These economic political, and geographic challenges made it essential to create a stronger and lasting government. James Madison, delegate for Virginia, helped shape and organize the document that has remained America's government for over the past 221 years.
"Overall, of seventy-one specific proposals that Madison moved, seconded, or spoke unequivocally in regard to," Forrest McDonald author of Novus Ordo Seclorum wrote, "he was on the losing side forty times." (Mcdonald, Pg 207) The two issues that were most essential to Madison were the right of the federal government to veto state laws and have both houses in Congress be elected proportionally. Both of these significant issues were denied by the other delegates at the Constitutional Convention. This outcome may thwart the idea of Madison being the most influential leader. When referring back to the website "The Federalist: James Madison"Historians can debate that George Washington could be the Constitution's true father, because of his appointment by Virginia to lend prestige to the effort the Constitutional Convention. (www.leftjustified.org) However, it can be argued that Madison was the leader. For instance, when the convention started he was the first one to trigger the dispute of representation by stating " a change in the principle of representation is the first step this Convention has to take before it can determine exactly what the national government will do" (Rakove, Pg 68), the idea he had in mind would change the course of America: The Virginia Plan.
Initially, Edmund Randolph was the one who proposed the Virginia Plan to the Constitutional Convention, but Madison was the key man who produced it. The Article " Virginia Plan" explains that the Virginia Plan would consist of "three branches with checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power. In its amended form, this page of Madison's plan shows his ideas for a legislature. It describes 2 houses: one with members elected by the people for 3-year terms and the other composed of older leaders elected by the state legislatures for 7-year terms. Both would use population as a basis for dividing seats among the states." (www.classbrain.com) This plan was an important source for what is now called The Great Compromise.
The ratification of the Constitution by Virginia was doubtful. Gary Wills's book, James Madison describe how James Madison overcame Patrick Herny's stand against the Constitution. The book states that " Henry played expertly on the fears of sending a representative off to a distant place, without the clogs of short terms, instruction, recall and so on" (Wills, Pg 36) However, Madison believed everyone had a better nature than what Henry claimed.
All sources indicate that James Madison initially believed that the Constitution did not need a Bill of Rights. He even said in letter to the House of Representatives"I should be unwilling to see a door opened for a re-consideration of the whole structure of the government, for a re-consideration of the principles and the substance of the powers given; because I doubt, if such a door was opened, if we should be very likely to stop at that point which would be safe to the government itself..." What he thought was if the delegates started making changes it would end ruining the document they just created. According to the article "James Madison Proposes Bill of Rights" it says "ames Madison had not believed that a bill of rights was required for the new government. However, during the ratification process, several states had called for a bill of rights, and Madison felt it was his obligation, his duty, to propose one." Today what we know as the Bill of Rights was written and proposed by Virginia delegate, James Madison, father of the Constitution.
Fifth Annotation
"James Madison (1751 - 1836". Miller Center of Public Affairs . 11-5-08 http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/madison
Through the basic facts of this site I have discovered that James Madison was not just born in Virginia, but died there to. He was educated at the College of New Jersey, which is now referred to as Princeton. Finally, he was episcopalian. The Episcopal Church was developed shortly after the American Revolution and can be explain as the middle way between Roman Catholic and Protestantism.
Through the basic facts of this site I have discovered that James Madison was not just born in Virginia, but died there to. He was educated at the College of New Jersey, which is now referred to as Princeton. Finally, he was episcopalian. The Episcopal Church was developed shortly after the American Revolution and can be explain as the middle way between Roman Catholic and Protestantism.
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