Madison and Hamilton

A Revised Articles of Confederation

Aug 30, 2006 Mary Trotter Kion

James Madison and Alexander Hamilton stressed that an additional convention of states must be called to revise the Articles of Confederation.

Sometime after helping Congress organize the national government under its newly adopted Articles of Confederation, James Madison presented his views on a federal government to George Washington. This first president of the United States was impressed with Madison and congratulated him on his election as a delegate to the 1786 Annapolis Convention in.

The Annapolis Convention of 1786

This convention was a meeting of several states. Its purpose was to study inter-state commercial problems. Although few delegates were in attendance, Madison and Hamilton "made the unsuccessful conference a turning point" in America's history.

At the convention James Madison and Alexander Hamilton stressed that an additional convention of states must be called to revise the Articles of Confederation. The two wholeheartedly gained George Washington's approval.

The Virginia Plan

James Madison, now in his thirty-sixth year, took a major role in the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. He gave himself the task of keeping a complete record of the debates during the conventions secret meetings. He had also drafted a complete plan for a new national government. The "Virginia Plan," as it was called, became the major basis for the Constitution and was approved four months later. At the convention he also repeatedly spoke on the necessity for providing a democratic basis for the government with the election of congressmen made directly by the people. And finally, he helped write the final version of the Constitution that was signed on September 17.

But Madison's work on the Constitution was not complete. After these sessions of congress he began work on a series of essays that would explain the Constitution to the average people. These tracts, and others written by Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, are today known as The Federalist. They proved invaluable in winning support for the new Constitution. And even today the long guiding hand of James Madison reaches forward through more than two centuries to "provide an unequaled interpretation of a federated national government."

Opposition From Patrick Henry the Political Boss

There was, however, one major kink in the political chain that might prove a determent to having the new Constitution ratified. That kink came in the form of a man who was considered, or considered himself, Virginia's political boss-Patrick Henry.

Madison and Hamilton: A Revised Articles of Confederation continues with James Madison and a Bloody Prediction: Patrick Henry's Lasting Enmity.

Previous: James Madison: The Fourth President of the United States.

The copyright of the article Madison and Hamilton in American History is owned by Mary Trotter Kion. Permission to republish Madison and Hamilton in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.