James Madison

"father" of the Constitution
born 1751, grew up at Montpelier after 1760
married Dolley Payne Todd 1794
aristocrat and scholar, not soldier
graduated 1771 from College of New Jersey
helped write 1776 VA state constitution
Annapolis Convention of 1786 and report
only 6 states sent delegates
was a secret conference, desperate times
postwar depression, wages declined 20%, excess of paper money, debtor prisons full, farmers in rebellion
decision to call the conference a failure and issued a call for another conference in Philadelphia, centrally located, the largest city
Congress meeting in New York at same time
Madison known for his boldness of thought
"Madison's Vices" 1787 critical of states
power vs. freedom
55 delegates met in Phil. summer 1787
"men of property" were conservative, according to Charles Beard thesis
Washington stayed in home of Robert Morris
May 25 took chair as conference chairman
Madison took notes
Rules Committee: secrecy, repeat votes
May 29 Charles Pinckney radical plan