James Madison
(March 4, 1809 to March 3, 1817)

Born: March 16, 1751
Died: June 28, 1836

Political Party: Democratic-Republican
Previous Occupation: Lawyer

Elected From: Virginia
Vice President: George Clinton (1809-12); Elbridge Gerry (1813-14)
Cabinet Members: view list

Other Government Positions: · Member of Virginia Consitutional Convention, 1776 · Member of Continental Congress, 1780-83 · Member of Virginia Legislature, 1784-86 · Member of Constitutional Convention, 1787 · Member of U.S. House of Representatives, 1789-97 · Secretary of State, 1801-09 (under Jefferson)

Inaugural Address: 1809, 1813
Biography: view

Presidential Highlights:
· War of 1812. Britain and France were fighting the Napoleonic Wars. Britain would forcibly search U.S. ships for deserters form the British Navy. Sometimes they seized American sailors and forced them to serve on British ships. When Britain refused to change its policy, Madison asked Congress to declare war. During the war the Capitol, White House, and Library of Congress were all burned. By late 1814, the U.S. troops began winning battles. Faced with defeat, the British agreed to the Treaty of Ghent, ending the war.

· Second Bank of the United States. The charter of the First Bank of the United States expired in 1811. Madison opposed the idea of a national bank, but after the War of 1812 the weakness of state banks threatened the national economy. Madison approved the charter of the Second Bank of the United States in order to save the national economy.

· Vetoed a public works bill (would have provided federal funds to build roads and canals). Madison argued that the Constitution prohibited federal spending for general public welfare.

Presidential Election:

1808
James Madison	122
Charles C. Pinckney	47
George Clinton	6
(Votes Not Cast)	1

1812
James Madison	128
DeWitt Clinton	89
(Votes Not Cast)	1

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