RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Had it not been for the bone-headed War of 1812, this guy would be at least a four. Inertia will usually get you that.

Yes, yes, I know he had to flee a burning White House, but my God he did so on horseback and led the fight against the British; Madison had a brilliant mind, and we owe him a great deal. A giant compared to the political pygmies of our time; when exactly did the intelligent leaders start sitting on their hands and allow the common folk to ruin the country? With Andrew Jackson, that's who!

The main writer of the US Constitution- the 'little Virginian' (he was but 5'3") was an intellectual of much great stature. Sure he declared war on England in 1812- but his great achievements other then that stand above that one mistake (that sadly burned the young American Capital)

Got us involved in the War of 1812 which many historians think was a completely unnecessary war. I disagree. Though Madison made many mistakes that led us into the War of 1812--like imposing economic sanctions on much of Europe which nearly ruined New England--the war itself was a good thing in the sense that we showed the world that we weren't to be taken lightly.

He formed a terrible politial party with a rude angry slave owner, and we went into the war of 1812 because of his bad decisions. He was retarted, that's all there is to say.

A great founding father, but as a president he leaves alot to be desired. His foreign policy led to Washington being burned by the British. If they weren't pre-occupied with Neopoleon, Britian probably could have retaken America.

Father of the Constitution....Anything else? You don't get more than three stars for simply being intelligent. THere must be some type of action, and Madison took none.

He didn't handle the War of 1812 very well, but other than that he was okay.

Who Thomas Jefferson described as possessing of a Luminous and discriminating mind, James Madison was the Father of our Constitution. As a young public servant, and later as President, Madison was know for his clarity of arguments rather than his eloquence. Honest, he was a good steward and maintainer of the times, but a poor wartime President. However, he had a brilliant socialite First Lady in his wife Dolley, who is often credited with saving many papers and artifacts when the British burned down the White House during the War of 1812.

The father of the constitution, but only a moderately successful president.

James Madison inherited from previous administrations a crisis that continued brewing and threatened to lead to war. The British had been harassing and impressing American ships at sea since the Adams Administration, and all attempts to settle the issue with diplomacy failed. From the time he assumed office, Madison himself sought a diplomatic resolution. Finally, in 1812, Madison realized that the only way that peace could be achieved was through force. Americas will was being tested by a foreign power, and our resolve had to be proven. In June 1812, Congress declared war on Great Britain. In order to finance the war, Madison was forced to approve the extension of the life of the Bank of the United States. Keep in mind that this went against Madisons own view of limited government, as he personally viewed the bank as unconstitutional. However, Madison made this unpopular decision for the good of the country, as the bank was needed to win the war. For his part, Madisons wartime management left a lot to be desired. He relied on advice from individuals completely unfit to give it to him, and appointed incompetent generals to important posts. Madison initially sought to invade Canada and annex the British territory. However, several humiliating defeats near Montreal tarnished any hopes that Monroe had of gaining control of Canada. In 1813, the tide of the war seemed to turn as the American Navy experienced several victories over British ships at sea. Nevertheless, the British in 1814 approached the Chesapeake Bay with hopes of capturing the nation's capital of Washington D.C. Madison unwisely left an incompetent Secretary of War and a blundering general in charge of defending the city. In the summer of 1814 the British captured and burned most of Washington D.C. as a helpless Madison fled. The see-saw again came down on our side as the British attempt to take Fort McHenry failed miserably. In a war that had no end in sight and seemed to be a see-saw of losses and victories for both sides, Britain, entangled in a war with other European powers, decided to back down. They chose to pursue peace. Madison did not know this until after authorizing the attack at New Orleans. On December 24, 1814, a peace treaty was signed restoring the pre-war boundaries and ensuring American national independence. The goal had been achieved- the United States had sent a strong message to the world that this nation intended to remain the master of its own house. No power, no matter how powerful, would take over our country without a fight. So, in the final analysis, Madison can be considered a mediocre President for his efforts. As I wrote earlier, Madison, unlike his predecessors, realized that war was necessary to solidify the United States as a free and independent nation that would not tolerate nor ignore blatant challenges of its independence by foreign powers. Nevertheless, Madison's management of the war was indeed faulty and there is room for criticism. His failure to appoint competent generals and officials led to the early setbacks which plagued the war effort. In the end, neither side could technically claim victory in the war. Britain, in serious debt after wars just a few years earlier with France, grew tired of a war which it thought would be won much more easily. America, on the other hand, suffered its own share of defeat, and the peace treaty initiated by the British received a warm welcome from Madison. Madison went to war, realizing that Americas prestige was at stake the goal was to send a strong message to the rest of the world that the United States was a free and independent nation, and considering that Britain was the first to back down in the war, Madison was able to convey that message. He declared to the rest of the world that the United States intended to maintain its independence, even if this meant going to war against more powerful nations. As a leader, he made mistakes, but he lead the fight to preserve American independence, and in the end, the peace was preserved and a much more powerful nation was forced to retreat.

Probably the most instrumental person at the constitution convention, an all around very smart guy.

This man is the creator of the American system. There migfht have been other founder fathers, and he is in my top ten list, but Madison built American Government. My rank 1.Washington-for being restrained, anyother general would ahve created an empire, i.e. Caeser and Napolean come to mind 2. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison are tied Jefferson-If you know anythign about John Locke or about Natural Rights and the Social Contract, and you read the declaration of independence, you know what a briallant man he was. Madison-Like I said built the American Government.

One of the founders of the Constitution, he also worked against Clays "American plan" consequently, with the help of others, we had to wait until Lincoln imposed a variation of this by force, to gain the "benefits" of Government by paid political patronage.

Sorry, but his legacy will always be running like a scared child from the burning White House and watching with his cabinet as Washington was engulfed in flames. His wife saved the White House and he abandoned it.

Although James Madison was far from being one of the top presidents, he handled the issues that he was faced with well, and he worked well with congress. The war of 1812 was not pointless-- James Madison understood that the scirmishes between countries could only be resolved by war, and that there was no telling how much another trade restraint would hurt the American Economy. He pushed the United States to show foreigners that America was a force to be reconed with, and that earned much respect.

He really was a good president, after his extreme influence on the Constitution.

Guys, guys, guys! Please! We're talking about Madison's PRESIDENCY, not his role in the Constitutional Convention or anything else! The PRESIDENCY! Forget what else he did; that's for another page. As for being a president, Madison was a pretty rotten one. He led us into a rather pointless war and worked his darndest to crush Henry Clay's proposals for the "American System"--a masterful national economic plan to help America. Henry Clay wanted the gov't to finance the building of roads and canals and railways, create a united national bank like Hamilton's of old, and have a high tariff. This would ennable American industrialists (protected from European goods by the high tariff) to sell their wears to other Americans via the new transportation routes, protected and secured and backed by a sound financial system wrought by the bank, and thereby further unite a warring and torn America that would later split over slavery. What could have solved a great crisis wasn't given a try. Thanks, James. I'm sorry, but the only good thing you gave to the presidency was your wife.

what ever, His wife was more interesting.

Since he must be rated on his presidency, he loses a great deal of ground to others. Handled our first real test as a nation in terms of sovereignty during the War of 1812. Historically, ranks in the top 5 of leaders in creating this nation and the governmental doctrine that stands the test of time and trial.

Short man, yet strong like bull. Doll of a wife.

Not that substantial a Presidency, but Madison gets points for being the chief architect of the greatest researach project of all time: the analysis of what caused republics to perish, which triggered the checks and balances behind our Constitution. Amazing that men behind a true "revolution" would be so thoughtful as to craft a government not just out of ideals, but out of rigorous study of history to guard against the weaknesses of future men that would need to sustain it.