Lessons on American Presidents.com
  Handout + MP3 + 8 Online Quizzes on James Madison

James Madison was the fourth President of the United States. He was born in 1751 in Virginia, the oldest of twelve children. He studied history and government at Princeton (then called the College of New Jersey). He was well read in law, which he studied because he thought it was interesting, not because he wanted to become a lawyer. He is known as the “Father of the Constitution”.

Madison started out in politics at an early age. He served in the Virginia state legislature from 1776 to 1779 and became known as a protégé of Thomas Jefferson. During this time, he helped draft the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. He served a second term in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1784 to 1786. He gained a reputation for his ability to build coalitions.

Madison was 36 when he attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and made a major contribution to its ratification. He felt he hadn’t earned the title of "Father of the Constitution" and wrote that it was not "the offspring of a single brain, but the work of many heads and many hands”. In Congress, he helped frame the Bill of Rights and enact the first revenue legislation.

Madison served as President between 1809 and 1817. He led America into the War of 1812 to try to end British interference in American affairs. The war ended in 1815 and is often called “the Second War of American Independence”. After the war he promoted a stronger national government and signed a bill that created the Second Bank of the United States. He died at the age of 85 in 1836.

Article adapted from www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/jamesmadison

James Madison was the fourth President of the United States. He was born in 1751 in Virginia, ______________________ children. He studied history and government at Princeton (then called the College of New Jersey). ______________________, which he studied because he thought it was interesting, not because he wanted to become a lawyer. ______________________ “Father of the Constitution”.

Madison started out in politics at an early age. He served in the Virginia ______________________ from 1776 to 1779 and became known as a protégé of Thomas Jefferson. During this time, he helped draft the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. He ______________________ in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1784 to 1786. He gained a reputation for his ______________________.

Madison was 36 when he attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia ______________________ contribution to its ratification. He felt he hadn’t earned the title of "Father of the Constitution" and wrote that it was not "______________________ single brain, but the work of many heads and many hands”. In Congress, he helped frame the Bill of Rights ______________________ revenue legislation.

Madison served as President between 1809 and 1817. He led America into the War of 1812 to try to end British interference in American affairs. ______________________ 1815 and is often called “the Second War of American Independence”. After ______________________ stronger national government and signed a bill that created the Second Bank of the United States. He died at ______________________.

  CORRECT THE SPELLING

James Madison was the fourth President of the United States. He was born in 1751 in Virginia, the dtolse of twelve children. He studied history and government at Princeton (then called the College of New Jersey). He was well read in law, which he sidtedu because he thought it was interesting, not because he wanted to become a lawyer. He is knwno as the “Father of the Constitution”.

Madison started out in spcoilti at an early age. He served in the Virginia state legislature from 1776 to 1779 and became known as a protégé of Thomas Jefferson. During this time, he helped ratdf the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. He served a second term in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1784 to 1786. He gained a reputation for his ability to bliud coalitions.

Madison was 36 when he attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and made a jamor contribution to its ratification. He felt he hadn’t earned the title of "Father of the Constitution" and wrote that it was not "the offspring of a isnleg brain, but the work of many heads and many hands”. In Congress, he helped frame the Bill of Rights and nteca the first revenue legislation.

Madison served as President between 1809 and 1817. He led America into the War of 1812 to try to end British interference in American afisraf. The war ended in 1815 and is often called “the Second War of American Independence”. After the war he promoted a gnrerots national government and insegd a bill that created the Second Bank of the United States. He died at the age of 85 in 1836.

  UNJUMBLE THE WORDS

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  DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

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  STUDENT JAMES MADISON SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about James Madison in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

  WRITING

Write about James Madison for 10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each other’s work.

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  HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET INFO: Search the Internet and find more information about James Madison. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about James Madison. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. JAMES MADISON POSTER Make a poster about James Madison. Show it to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your posters.

5. MY JAMES MADISON LESSON: Make your own English lesson on James Madison. Make sure there is a good mix of things to do. Find some good online activities. Teach the class / another group when you have finished.

6. ONLINE SHARING: Use your blog, wiki, Facebook page, MySpace page, Twitter stream, Del-icio-us / StumbleUpon account, or any other social media tool to get opinions on James Madison. Share your findings with the class.