James Madison: The Great Pragmatist | 5 Minute Video

From the day he joined the Continental Congress in 1780 through his second term as the fourth President of the United States, James Madison was in the middle of everything. Many patriots contributed to the country’s success, but few, if any, did as much as James Madison. Historian Jay Cost explains.

#jamesmadison #foundingfathers #ushistory

Script:

From the time he joined the Continental Congress in 1780 through his second term as the fourth President of the United States, James Madison was in the middle of… everything.

When it came to the Constitution, he understood it better than any single person—because nobody contributed more to its creation.

When it came to selling that document to the American people, he made the most persuasive arguments.

When ten amendments—the Bill of Rights—were needed to seal the deal, he wrote those, too.

Diminutive in stature—he was just over five feet tall—he was a giant in every other respect: as a writer, theorist, and, most importantly, political pragmatist. He was a deep thinker who got things done. And no one ever worked harder to get those things done.

James Madison was born in 1751 to a prosperous family in the Virginia Piedmont. Like his mentor, neighbor, and best friend Thomas Jefferson, he was well educated in the classics and spoke multiple languages. His home state sent him as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1780, at the age of 29. There, he saw first-hand how bad a national government could be: slow, corrupt, self-interested.

He resolved to do something about it.

He wasn’t alone. George Washington and others pushed for a new social compact, a document that would truly bind the divergent interests of the various States—no easy feat. Their efforts paid off in May 1787 when a new Constitutional Convention was convened in Philadelphia.

Even though he was one of the younger delegates, Madison took a lead role, not because he was so ambitious, but because he was so knowledgeable. He attended every session, gave more speeches than anyone, took meticulous notes, and drafted the plan that the delegates used as the framework for the new Constitution.

Writing the document was hard enough; selling it to the American people would prove even harder. A group known as the Anti-Federalists began flooding the newspapers with anti-Constitution essays, warning that the plan would destroy liberty rather than save it.

Madison and New York lawyer Alexander Hamilton came to the Constitution’s defense in a series of essays known as the Federalist Papers. The two men were a dynamic duo. Hamilton did the lion’s share of the writing, but Madison’s submissions arguably had the most impact. He carefully explained the system of checks and balances that would define the new government.

The Federalists carried the day—just barely—and the Constitution was ratified.

Madison wasn’t yet 40… And still a bachelor.

That changed when he met Dolley Payne, a lively young widow seventeen years his junior. She transformed the solitary, workaholic Madison into one of the great dinner party hosts of the era. This proved invaluable to his political career.

After serving as Thomas Jefferson’s secretary of state and supervising the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from the French, doubling the size of the United States, Madison was the obvious choice to become the fourth President.

But there was trouble on the horizon. Great Britain, which had never fully reconciled itself to its defeat in the Revolutionary War, continued to harass the new nation at every turn. It seized American goods at sea and even forced American sailors to work for the Royal Navy.

By June 1812, Madison had had enough. He asked Congress to declare war against Great Britain for continued abuses of American rights. So began the War of 1812.

It was a disaster—one of the rare times Madison failed to think through an important policy decision. The United States simply wasn’t prepared for war, certainly not one against the mightiest power on earth.

[JaveGeddes]

I'm glad I added this to my playlist yesterday.. it was a good thing to wake up to..

[johnelliott]

These are the simple things and perfect example of how things should be explained and taught. Great evening to you all.

[gypsypath]

Thank you very much for doing this series!

[koreanelvis]

PragerU: PLEASE DO MORE VIDEOS on our American Presidents. I believe our history is something our current generation is missing out on in their curriculum. Thank you in advance.

[cynforrest]

Terrific. Thank you so much. This short lesson filled in some blanks for me. Much appreciated! ❤️🇺🇸❤️

[timsimmons]

James Madison's notes are so important but constantly ignored. The constitution is the cliff notes of his writings.

[JMolKoz]

Our founding fathers were some of the most intelligent men of their time. James Madison was definitely one of them from beginning to end when he understood how freedom of the individual and government worked. And even if his efforts during our second war of independence didn't go the way history made it during the burnings of DC and Baltimore, with the help of then Gen. Andrew Jackson defending New Orleans in 1815 America, still defeated the British and we kept our independence as a sovereign nation

[AutomaticHandguns]

The only lives that truly matter are those who respect the lives of others.

[chrisgallagher]

Fabulous, and this is great content!!

[surendersingal]

Thank you sir for giving us thorough presentation on the Highest Quality ( kind human) Mr Madison. Who was most influential in saving citizens from Abusive power of corrupt businessman n govt officials.

[freesk]

Turns out that the anti-federalists were right. The Constitution granted too much power to the Federal Government, and vague parts allowed politicians to seize even more power.

[higgantb]

Why no mention of John Jay in writing some of the Federalists?

[fnaffoxy]

When you brought up The Federalist Papers, you left out John Jay as one of the writers.

[GabrielRodriguez-umfi]

His successor, James Monore, made the United States into a world power ;)

[TickedOffPriest]

The Federalist Papers are the appendix of The Constitution.

[rale_p]

I have read Federalist Papers, they are great!❤️🇺🇸

[RodMartinJr]

Yet, Madison was so wrong to oppose the Bill of Rights. His claim that the Constitution's limitations made it clear enough. Yet, how many pieces of legislation have *_infringed on the right to bear arms!_* The 10th Amendment *_prohibition_* against a HUGE federal government certainly did NOT work out as planned, starting to *_fail_* in at least as early as the 1840s. But most worrisome of all is the failure to put teeth in the Supreme Law of the Land. For *_what good is an Oath of Office if there are ZERO penalties for betraying that Oath._*

[Adam.Rushing]

Before you crap on the Anti-Federalists, it should be known that you would NOT have your bill of rights without them.

The BOR was the only way the Constitution would be ratified.

The Federalists felt the Constitution was worded well enough. However, the Antis wanted specific protections itemized and listed.

Had it not been for them, and their subsequent BOR, American citizens would have lost their rights and freedoms a long time ago…or else have had multiple civil wars.

[raphaelleal]

Bro, I’ve seen the Broadway musical on Disney +

[THall-vicp]

Hm. Wasn't the Bill of Rights ratified _after_ the Constitution?