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If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. Federalist Papers, #51

Federalist Papers, #51

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Legacy

During his lifetime, Madison was known as the “Sage of His Time” and the “Father of the Constitution.” Madison is credited with the exhaustive research on government that contributed to the Constitution’s central ideas, particularly that of a government separated into legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Daniel Webster stated that Madison “had as much to do as any man in framing the Constitution, and as much to do as any man in administering it.” Despite this success, Madison’s term as president was overwhelmed with the ongoing problem of the war between France and Britain. Shipping rights continued to be denied and trade thwarted as America’s ships were constantly attacked. The U.S. declared war on Britain, and continued to lose many more ships.

In 1814 the British launched an oppressive assault against the U.S.: fifty ships carrying 4,000 troops landed 35 miles from Washington. The Americans were not prepared, and the British aggressively attacked and burned Washington, D.C., including the White House. An observer noted that “not an inch, but its crack’d and blacken’d wall remained” of the White House the day after it was burned. Victory for the U.S. at Baltimore was then followed by the decisive victory in New Orleans, at which time the peace treaty had already been signed to end America’s second war of independence and ensure Madison’s term ended with the nation at peace.