Career

In May, 1776, when I was 26 years old I was elected to be the representative from Orange County Virginia. I had to go to a state convention in Williamsburg. While I was there I listened to people talk about the Continenatal Congress. Other men were meeting in Philidelphia deciding what to do about Great Britian and all the problems. The Virginia state sent a representative to Philadelphia to deliver a message. We were to propose a Decleration of Independance to Great Britian. I was put on a committee to write a constitution for Virginia. My job was to make up a list of "inalienable rights". I didn't talk at the meeting at all. But, when it ended I wanted another political office. I decided to run for Virginia house of Delegates as the new Legislature. I didn't think I would win and I didn't do that much to get people to vote for me. I lost to a man who wanted it more then I did. After I lost I went back home. But, sometime later the House of Delegates elected me to fill a spot in the Council of State. The governor was in the council of state, his name was Patrick Henry. Thomas Jefferson was also in the Council of State. He was a 32 year old lawyer. Thomas and I, both didn't like Patrick Henry. Thomas and I later became best friends. In 1779 I was elected a delegate to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. I was so excited because I had wanted it for along time. I was told to leave for Philadelphia immediatly. But, that day there was a snow storm and noone could travel for weeks. I was very upset because I couldn't get to Philadelphia. It was March 18,1880 when I finally got to go. We decided what to do while the war was going on. It was going very bad, some of the British soldiers had captured some of the Virginia house of Delegates members. After this America started wining battles and then finally British General, Charles Cornwallis surrenderd to our General George Washington.

Early Life

My name is James Madison. I was born on March 5th 1750. Around the time I was born a lot of the babies that were born then were dieing. Most of them didn't even turn one. I was lucky and survied. I was born at Port Conway, Virginia at my mothers parents house. After I was born my parents had 11 more children. Sadly 5 of them died. Almost everyone in my family called me Jemmy. I never really had to do chores around the house because we had slaves. We were a very wealthy family. I was always a book worm. I would rather read then go out and play with the other boys. By the time I was 11 I had read all 85 of my father's books. When I asked my father for more books, instead of giving me more he sent me to school. There were tons of books in school. I read the ones in English only until I learned how to speak French, Latin and Greek. Then I read books in those languages. In school my favorite subject was Astronomy. When I was 16 my father pulled me out of school. I had a new teacher, his name was Mr.Martin. He was also a minister who was living in our house. His job was to prepare me for college. My father decided that I was going to go to "The University of New Jersey". When I was 18 I left for college. The moment I got there I loved it. There were so many books and I made friends quickly. When I was in college I was called James and not Jemmy.