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James Madison. The use of governmental power to promote liberty

The use of governmental power to promote liberty


Early American history is brilliantly portrayed in the biography of James Madison written by Jack Rakove, the Pulitzar prize winning-author. In this book, American Biography: James Madison and the creation of the American Republic, the author reviews the life of James Madison, the fourth President of America. The book clearly states the legacy of James Madison in modern America. The book is not just a biography about the fourth President of United States; it is also a good textbook for American history learners. Life and the Philosophy of Madison and his fight for 'governmental power for liberty' are explained in detail in American Biography: James Madison and the creation of the American Republic.
The fourth President of America did not want his career history to be filled with stories of ambitions, disappointments and achievements; instead he wanted it to be beautiful record of public deeds. Madison always wished to maintain his political as well as private life tales to be away from posterity. He was the campaigner of the role of the government in promoting liberty. He believed in the authority of government to establish liberty in the nation and fought for it.

Madison was a highly talented political thinker of his time and none of his contemporaries could remain such a great imprint in the political history of United States. He was a great advocate of liberty and proclaimed that "Learned Institutions ought to be favorite objects with every free people. They throw that light over the public mind which is the best security against crafty and dangerous encroachments on the public liberty". His ideologies were unique and his policies were most suited for the period. He was of the opinion that "We are right to take alarm at the first experiment upon our liberties".
The political talents and the interests and leadership skills of James Madison came to action in the public affairs and political dealings that he engaged in. Madison successfully accomplished the mission of creating and extending national republic in United States. Madison played a major role in all the significant developments of American national politics during his time. His magnificent efforts and excellent leading was the force behind the authorization and the amendment of the Articles of Confederation, the formation of the first amendments, the acceptance and ratification of the Federal Constitution, the formation of the first opposition party, the first reported controversies about constitutional interpretation, and the long political and military struggle that concluded with the 1812 War.

Madison's great role in the American constitutional tradition is a great proof of his remarkable capacity to comprehend the fundamental aspects and problems of political situation which he acquired through his experiences and fights in the political struggle. The author of American Biography: James Madison and the creation of the American Republic shows through Madison how the theories and ideologies that sprang up from a book can be elaborated and effectively put into action through the chapters of republican, revolutionary, and constitutional politics.

The lasting achievements of Madison are indeed a great contribution to American constitutional tradition. He tried hard to define the discrete issues of majority power as well as minority rights. The biography gets into the conscience of Madison and it explains the valuable legacy of James Madison in the American Politics. His concept of government and his idea about the nation's constitution was one that filled with the theories of liberty. He opined that "The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to an uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government"
Rakove explain in detail the role of Madison in the revolution and his role in the Constitution creation. The fascinating account of Rakove on the 1812 War (the war that ruined the nation during the Presidentship of Madison) educates the reader about the details of the happenings of the most crucial period of American governmental history.

James Madison is better known as the 'Father of the Constitution', as he played a great role in the formation of the constitution of United States in 1787 (along with Alexander Hamilton as well as John Jay). He was the foremost advocate of republicanism which he believed to be the political value system for the newly forming America of those times. Working together with Thomas Jefferson, he formed the Republican Party (opposing the Federalist party) leading a movement of congressional political activism which was found to be successful in the Revolution of 1800. Being the Secretary of State of Jefferson, he managed the Louisiana Purchase, thereby increasing (almost doubling) the size of the nation. Madison declared war on Britain, the 1812 War. Even though the war did not reach its goal, it ended on a high note in 1815 as a novel spirit of nationalism that moved across the nation after the war. Madison's exceptional skills in political science and his influential logic made him the main architect of the most important governmental document and presented him the name the 'master builder of the Constitution'. An American history learner would also like to call him the greatest volunteer of 'governmental power to promote liberty'.




Reference

Rakove, Jack N. Oscar Handlin (ed.), James Madison and the Creation of the American Republic, Longman, 2002.

Posted by: Helen P. Nash

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