James Madison is known as the Father of the Constitution. Who was this founding father, and what made him so remarkable?

Madison was instrumental in getting the Constitutional Congress to meet in Philadelphia that hot summer of 1787. He realized that the only way the States could survive was if they formed a strong central government. Madison was an avid bookworm, studying everything he could get his hands on that had to do with government down through the ages. His friend, Thomas Jefferson, helped him get books to study.

Based on what he learned from his studies, Madison wrote what was called the Virginia Plan, which described a virtually new form of government. The States were operating under the Articles of Confederation, but it was not a strong enough document to keep peace and order. Not only were skirmishes taking place between the British and Americans in various places, but even between Americans in different states.

To get the delegates to come to Philadelphia, Madison did several things. First, he told everyone that the convention was for the purpose of amending the Articles of Confederation. In reality, his purpose was to abandon the Articles, but he knew the delegates wouldn’t agree to that; hence the misleading invitations.

The second thing he did was to correspond repeatedly with George Washington, who was enjoying his retirement at Mount Vernon. Madison begged Washington to attend the convention. He proceeded to tell everyone Washington would indeed be there, even though Washington persisted in giving him a firm “No!” each time he asked. Fortunately, Washington realized how important it was to the fledgling country for him to be there. What a surprise for Madison when Washington actually arrived!

As the Continental Congress convened, Madison seated himself toward the front of the room and proceeded to write down notes of everything that happened. Because of his copious notes, we know what took place during those months of discussion.

Madison had what we might consider today one flaw in his Virginia Plan, a flaw that was spotted immediately by the delegates from the smaller of the 13 states, such as Deleware and Connecticut. His plan called for representation from all the states to be based on population alone. At that time in history, the interests of the states varied based on their location, resourses, and way of life. The smaller states realized that if their states were completely represented according to the population, they would have very little representation and their special needs would get no consideration in the federal government.

The delegates from the smaller states were adamant about their need for equal representation, while the delegates from the more populous states agreed with Madison. The result was a great deal of heated arguing. This went on for many days, until Benjamin Franklin made his famous statement, “I’ve lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing Proofs I see of this Truth —That God governs in the Affairs of Men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that except the Lord build the House they labor in vain who build it. I firmly believe this, —and I also believe that without his concurring Aid, we shall succeed in this political Building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our Projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a Reproach and Bye word down to future Ages.”

Washington called for a recess, and the delegates all returned to their private quarters to consider what had been said and to spend time in prayer. When they reconvened they were able to form what has been called “the Great Compromise.” Each of the states was to have two representatives in the Senate, but the number of representatives they would have in the House of Representatives would be determined by the population of the State. This method of representation is still in effect today, over 200 years later.

Several of the delegates thought that the new Constitution would be incomplete without a Bill of Rights to guarantee Americans key freedoms. Our Constitution began with 10 rights, and has been amended down through the years to contain 27 of them. Our country could never have become the world power it is if it had not been for the Constitution, and this document would never have been created if it hadn’t been for the brilliant work of James Madison, the Father of the Constitution.

Written by Barbara Wood