Presidential Biographies | Madison Administrations - Career

Career

Madison's presidential years were not the high point of his career. More an intellectual force than a political leader, Madison made his mark on U.S. history as the main author of the Constitution prior to his years as president. Madison's main contributions were as a philosopher of representative democracy.

Virginia Politics

During the American Revolution (1775–83), Madison accepted a military commission as a colonel; but because of poor health he never fought in battle. Instead, he involved himself in revolutionary politics on the state level in Virginia. As delegate to the Virginia Convention in 1776, Madison served on a committee to draw up a declaration of rights and a state constitution. After the Virginia Convention adopted the proposed constitution, the delegates declared independence from Britain. During his short stay in the Virginia...