James Madison Trivia

1. Although childless himself, James Madison is often called the "Father" of the United States Constitution, and the "Father" of which other bulwark of United States legislation?

From Quiz President James Madison and His Times

Answer: The Bill of Rights

The death of James Madison in 1836 marked the passing of the last of the "Founding Fathers" of the nation. He was "Founding Father" of the United States Constitution and The Bill of Rights. From his advocacy at the Constitutional Convention of 1787; through his 8 years as a US Representative and leader of the Federalist Party (1789-1797) - including his shepherding of the Bill of Rights through Congress; to his service as Jefferson's Secretary of State (1801-1809); and, finally, to his own two terms as President (1809-1817), James Madison not only witnessed but strongly influenced the political development of a new nation. The James Madison Papers at the Library of Congress represent the most authoritative documentation of the earliest years of the American experiment in self-governance. Recognizing the importance of his legacy, on March 3 1837 Congress approved the purchase of Madison's notes from the Constitutional Convention of 1787-1788 for $30,000. Again on May 31 1848, Congress agreed to purchase the remainder of Madison's papers for an additional $25,000.

From Quiz James Madison: Little Big Man

Answer: 0

James and Dolley never had any children of their own, although Dolley did have a son by her first husband, John Todd, a lawyer who died of yellow fever in 1793. Ironically, another famous American "father," George Washington, also had no biological children.

From Quiz James Madison, America's Fourth President

Answer: Thomas Jefferson

As secretary of state, Madison strongly encouraged resistance to the demands by the Barbary pirates that the U.S. pay them tribute. He also strongly denounced the British practice of impressment.

From Quiz The Life of James Madison

Answer: Dolley Payne Todd

James Madison married Dolley Payne Todd on September 14, 1794, and had no children the rest of their lives. (With the exception of an adopted son.) Betsy Ross obviously did not marry James Madison, and Elizabeth Kortright married James Monroe, not James Madison.

From Quiz James Madison: Little Big Man

Answer: Lawyer

Madison, after graduating from Princeton University in 1772, briefly considered a career as a member of the bar but soon abandoned that course. He was elected to the Orange County (VA) Committee of Safety in 1774, which was chaired by his father. After leaving the White House in 1817, Madison served on the board of regents for the University 0f Virginia, succeeding his life-long friend Thomas Jefferson as rector in 1826.

From Quiz The Life of James Madison

Answer: Democratic - Republican

James Madison helped found the Democratic-Republican party along with Thomas Jefferson, around 1792. The party opposed most of the Federalist ideas, and supported strict interpretation of the constitution. So, they opposed the idea of a national bank, proposed by Alexander Hamilton (a federalist). The Whig party was not created until about 1833, making it impossible for James Madison to be apart of it.

From Quiz President James Madison and His Times

Answer: The Federalist Papers

The Supreme Court has cited "The Federalist Papers" more than 300 times in its decisions. They collectively articulate an understanding of the original intentions of the Founding Fathers of the United States in forming "a more perfect union." Though not without contrasting opinions, they are an invaluable source for insight into the philosophy and motives that served as the basis for the United States Constitution. The "Salmagundi Papers" or "Salmagundi" are a series of 20 satirical essays written by Washington Irving in 1807-1808. The 17th essay contains the first mention of "Gotham" as a reference to New York City. The "Pentagon Papers", so-called, are a series of documents published in the "New York Times" 1971 and taken from a top secret government report of the planning and conduct of the Viet Nam War. "The Passport Papers" are what The Department of Homeland Security asks for when a person arrives at a port of entry to the United States.

From Quiz James Madison, America's Fourth President

Answer: Dolley Payne Todd

Dolley was born on May 29, 1768 in North Carolina. In 1790, Dolley married John Todd who passed away in 1793 during the yellow fever epidemic, leaving her a widow with one son, John Payne Todd. She passed away on July 12, 1849 and was buried in Washington, D.C.

From Quiz The Life of James Madison

Answer: Father of the Constitution

James Madison is known as the Father of the Constitution, because he was the principle author of the document. (He also hated the nickname.) He is also known as the Father of the Bill of Rights. John Adams is known as the Father of the Declaration of Independence. (Even though Thomas Jefferson wrote it, John Adams was the driving force behind it.)

From Quiz James Madison: Little Big Man

Answer: The protection of U.S. neutral rights at sea.

Both sides of the Napoleonic Wars treated the U.S. as a pawn. France was seizing America ships and their cargo bound for England, while the British, desperate for men, regularly boarded ships flying the American flag and impressed, or seized, sailors from those ships and pirated them to serve on theirs. In retaliation, and to assert America's right as a neutral to deal with all belligerents of the war, President Jefferson, with the full backing of Secretary of State Madison, enacted the embargo. The hope was that the economies of France and England would be so severely damaged that they would be more than happy to respect America's neutrality. It turned out that the economy that suffered the most was America's, as $16 million in customs revenues was lost from the inception of the embargo until its partial repeal in 1809, just before Jefferson left office.

From Quiz President James Madison and His Times

Answer: The Republic of West Florida

Alas, Texas was not the only lone star republic! The "Bonnie Blue Flag" (single white star centered on a field of blue) flew over the capitol of the Republic of West Florida at St. Francisville, Louisiana from June-October 1810. The President of the Republic, Fulwar Skipwith, at first refused to recognize the annexation but he and the legislature eventually acquiesced and accepted Madison's proclamation. The 7 parishes of the old Republic that now reside in Louisiana (East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington and West Feliciana) are sometimes referred to as the "Florida" parishes.

From Quiz James Madison: Little Big Man

Answer: Both died in office.

George Clinton, Madison's first V.P., and Elbridge Gerry, his second V.P., died in office. Clinton, former governor of New York and nemesis of Alexander Hamilton, had also been Jefferson's vice-president. He died shortly before the end of his term in 1812. Gerry was one of the American representatives during the XYZ Affair that occurred during John Adams' presidency, and had served as governor of Massachusetts before being elected to the vice presidency. He died midway through his term, in 1814.

From Quiz James Madison, America's Fourth President

Answer: War of 1812

Another reason for Madison's declaration of war was due to Indian unrest, which was being exploited by the British. Congress officially declared war on Great Britain on June 18, 1812. The House approved the declaration by a vote of 79 to 49, while the Senate approved the declaration by a vote of 19 to 13.

From Quiz James Madison: Little Big Man

Answer: 3

As a delegate to the Virginia Convention of 1776, Madison was automatically a member of the first House of delegates, as this was one of the provisions of the state constitution of Virginia adopted at the convention. He was returned to the House in 1784, where he led the fight against the reestablishment of the Episcopalian church as the state-sanctioned church of Virginia. After serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1789-1797, he once again was elected to the Virginia House, were he campaigned for Thomas Jefferson's presidential bid in 1800. As a reward, and as they were close friends, Jefferson rewarded Madison with what was then the "stepping stone" to the White House, secretary of state.

From Quiz James Madison, America's Fourth President

Answer: James Monroe

While serving as secretary of war, Monroe temporarily discharged duties of both state and war departments. William H. Crawford succeeded Monroe as secretary of war. Of course, Monroe would go on to become the fifth president of the United States.

From Quiz President James Madison and His Times

Answer: Czar Alexander I of Russia

Beginning in 1812, Napoleon invaded Russia while continuing to wage war in the European theater against Britain. Czar Alexander I needed Britain's full attention and commitment to the European theater of war against Napoleon - not draining resources in an overseas adventure with the United States. It was with Russia's defense in mind that he offered to mediate a peace between Britain and the United States.

From Quiz James Madison, America's Fourth President

Answer: DeWitt Clinton

DeWitt Clinton was the nephew of George Clinton. During the election of 1812, Madison earned 128 electoral votes, while DeWitt Clinton garnered 89 electoral votes. Clinton won the majority of electoral votes in the following seven states: Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island.

From Quiz The Life of James Madison

Answer: two

He served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809-1817.

From Quiz James Madison, America's Fourth President

Answer: University of Virginia

In addition to his time at the University of Virginia, during his retirement Madison also represented Orange County at the Virginia Constitutional Convention in Richmond. In addition in 1819, he helped organize the American Colonization Society as a colony for former American slaves.

From Quiz The Life of James Madison

Answer: He didn't die on July 4

James Madison died of natural causes on June 28, 1836. It is said that some townspeople encouraged James Madison to try to survive until July 4 (by use of special drugs), when former presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died. But, James Madison payed no attention to them and died peacefully on June 28, 1836.

From Quiz President James Madison and His Times

Answer: The Brick Capitol - now the Supreme Court Building

After the capitol burned, Congress assembled at Blodgett's Boarding House on September 8 1814 to discuss its future options. Many members were of the opinion that Congress should move temporarily to Philadelphia until the capitol was restored. A group of local citizens responded by beginning immediate construction of a large red brick building which they offered to the government to house Congress and keep them in Washington. Congress accepted and continued to meet in session at the "Red Brick Capitol" until 1819. Subsequently, the red brick building was used to house prisoners during the Civil War and became known as The Old Prison. Because of its prominent location immediately across the street from the original capitol building, the "Red Brick Capitol" site was chosen as the location for the Supreme Court building in 1932.

From Quiz James Madison: Little Big Man

Answer: The American Colonization Society

Madison had believed for many years that slavery was a cancer upon America that would eventually lead to its dissolution, if allowed to spread unabated. He favored the idea of resettling freed blacks back in Africa. The American Colonization Society, founded in 1819, was the organization that founded the country of Liberia in Africa, whose capitol was named for then-President James Monroe.

From Quiz James Madison, America's Fourth President

Answer: Montpelier

There are reports that Madison was offered stimulants to keep him alive until July 4 so he could join three former presidents who died on that date, but Madison refused. Dr. Robley Dunglison was the doctor who attended to Madison during the final month of his life.

From Quiz The Life of James Madison

Answer: He was our shortest Founding Father

He was the shortest and skinniest Founding Father, at 5ft. 4in and a mere 100 pounds. He was also a distant relative of George Washington (1st cousin twice removed). Hope you liked my quiz!

From Quiz President James Madison and His Times

Answer: I speak better lying down.

After graduating from The College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1771, Madison returned for an additional year to study theology under the tutelage of John Witherspoon (then President of the College).It is possible that because of his vocal limitations, Madison decided against a career in the Presbyterian or Episcopalian ministry and entered the practice of law instead.

From Quiz James Madison: Little Big Man

Answer: John Quincy Adams

Adams, in reviewing Madison's career, studied, among other items, the correspondence between Madison and his old friend Thomas Jefferson. John Q. wasn't quite as forgiving of Jefferson as his father had been, feeling that Jefferson, at the least, was a user of people. Madison, Adams believed, did much to blunt some of Jefferson's sharp edges. In studying their relationship, Adams wrote, "Madison moderated some of his (Jefferson's) excess....He was in truth a greater and far more estimable man."

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