James Madison

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at the life and career of James Madison, the 4th President of the USA. According to the paper, Madison is known as the 'Father of the Constitution'. The paper further discusses how Madison was one of the first thinkers in colonial America who understood why church and state must be separated.

From the Paper:

"During August 1789, Congress deliberated on what would become the religion clauses of the First Amendment. Madison's first draft read, "The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext, infringed" (Boston). His proposal was sent for consideration to a committee, which eventually settled on language reading, "Congress shall make no law establishing articles of faith or a mode of worship, or prohibiting the free exercise of religion" (Boston). However, the House of Representatives rejected this version, and so a joint Senate-House committee, which included Madison, met and agreed to the language we know today, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" (Boston). "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Boston, Rob. JAMES MADISON AND CHURCH-STATE SEPARATION. Church & State. March 01 2001. Retrieved September 22 2006 from HighBeam Research Library.
• Felzenberg, Alvin S. "James Madison, the clearest thinker." The Christian Science Monitor. March 16 2001. Retrieved September 22 2006 from HighBeam Research Library.
• "James Madison." The White House. Retrieved September 22 2006 from: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jm4.html
• Loconte, Joseph. "Faith and the founding: the influence of religion on the politics of James Madison." Journal of Church and State. September 22 2003. Retrieved September 22 2006 from HighBeam Research Library.
• "Madison, James." The Columbia Encyclopedia. Sixth Edition. 2006. Retrieved September 22 2006 from HighBeam Research Library.

More papers on James Madison:

• Research Paper # 95870 : "The Presidency of James Madison"
• Essay # 68655 : "James Madison"
• Term Paper # 148325 : "James Madison on Separation of Church and State"
• Book Review # 101827 : "James Madison and the Creation of the American Republic"

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