美国总统4 詹姆斯麦迪逊.docx

美国总统4詹姆斯麦迪逊JamesMadison:NotYourEverydayPoliticianVOALearningEnglishpresentsAmerica'sPresidents.JamesMadisonwaselectedin1808.Hewasacapablepresidentwhoservedtwoterms.ButmostAmericansdonotrememberMadisonforhispresidency.Theyrememberhimforworkhedidearlier.AftertheRevolutionaryWar,inwhichtheAmericancolonistsseparatedfromBritain,MadisonproposedthatthenewUnitedStatesformastrongernationalgovernment.">AftertheRevolutionaryWar,inwhichtheAmericancolonistsseparatedfromBritain,MadisonproposedthatthenewUnitedStatesformastrongernationalgovernment.Madison'svisionforathree-partgovernment-withanexecutive,alegislature,andanindependentSupremeCourt-becamethebasisfortheConstitutionwestillusetoday.MadisonwentontopersuadevoterstoaccepttheproposedConstitution.Heexplainedhowasystemofchecksandbalanceswouldpreventanyonepartofgovernmentfrombecomingtoopowerful.JamesMadison:U.S.presidentfrom1809-1817Andzwhenvotersdemandedmoreprotectionforindividualliberties,MadisonwrotetheamendmentsthatbecametheBillofRights.TheseactionsearnedMadisonthename''FatheroftheConstitution/OppositesattractMadisondidnothavetheappearanceofmostpoliticians.Hewasashortmanwithasoftvoicewhohadbeensickoftenasachild.HegrewupinawealthyfamilyinVirginia.Helikedtoreadbooks,andtostudy.HewenttocollegeattheschoolthatlaterbecamePrincetonUniversityinNewJersey.WhentheRevolutionaryWarstarted,MadisonzSintelligenceandknowledge-aswellasfamilymoney-helpedhimparticipateindebatesaboutindependence.MadisonalsoheldpositionsinthenewAmericangovernmenthehelpedcreate,includingassecretaryofstateunderPresidentThomasJefferson.Madisondidnothavemuchofapersonallife.ManypeopleweresurprisedwhenhemarriedayoungwidownamedDolleyPayneTodd.Shewas26;hewas43.Thecoupledidnothavechildren,buttheyraisedMrs.MadisonzSsurvivingsontogether.">Madisondidnothavemuchofapersonallife.ManypeopleweresurprisedwhenhemarriedayoungwidownamedDolleyPayneTodd.Shewas26;hewas43.Thecoupledidnothavechildren,buttheyraisedMrs.Madison,ssurvivingsontogether.Storiessuggestthetwowereveryhappy,althoughtheyhaddifferentpersonalities.DolleyMadisonwasenergetic,warm,andsocial.Shelovedtothrowparties-andherguestslovedtoattendthem.HistorianCatherineAllgornotesDolleyMadisonoftendresseddramatically-includingwearingturbanscoveredwithpeacockfeathers.Herweeklygatheringsatthepresident'shouseweresocrowdedthattheybecameknownas''squeezes.,zAsfirstIadyzDolleyMadisondidnotfollowherhusband,sideaofastrictseparationofpowers.Sheinvitedofficialsfromallpartsofthegovernmenttoherparties,aswellaspeoplefromopposingpoliticalgroups.AllgorsaysDolleyMadisonsucceededinmakingthepresident'shouseasymbolofunityandglamor.Sheremainsoneofthebest-knownandmost-lovedfirstladiesinU.S.history.Buthiswife,spopularitycouldnotpreventMadisonfromfacingadifficultpresidency.ConflictabroadandathomeDuringhisfirstterm,theU.S.facedincreasinglytenserelationswithBritain.MadisonaccusedtheBritishofinterferingwithinternationaltradeandseizingAmericansailors.Atthesametime,European-AmericansettlersblamedtheBritishforhelpingnativetribesfightagainstthem.But,thesettlershadviolatedtreatiesbetweentheU.S.governmentandtheNativeAmericans.In1811,nativewarriorsattackedU.S.soldiersattheBattleofTippecanoeintoday,sstateofIndiana.AU.S.generalnamedWilliamHenryHarrisonledhistroopstofightback.Theresultwasnotclear,butHarrisondeclaredvictory.ThefollowingyearzMadisonproposedwaragainstBritain.Congressapproved.TheWarof1812began.Warof1812FormostofthewarzAmericanforcesfailed.Butin1813,theyhadtwonotablevictoriesinCanada.TheycapturedandburnedthecityofYork,inToronto.DuringtheWarof1812zNativeAmericantribeslostsovereigntyoftheirlandsacrossthe"OldNorthwest,"eventuallyleadingtoremovalsofIndiancommunitiestoreservationswestoftheMississippi.AndGeneralHarrisonhadanothermajorfightwithnativewarriorsattheBattleoftheThames.TheNativeAmericansweredefeated.Theleaderofthetribalalliance,Tecumsehzdiedfromthewoundshereceivedthere.Thatlossended,forthemostpart,theeffortsofeasternNativeAmericantribestopushbackwhitesettlers.In1814zthewarturnedagain.BritishsoldierstooktheU.S.capitalofWashington,DC.Madisonhadalreadyleftthepresident'shousetomeetwithgeneralsinthefield.DolleyMadisonremained.ButwhenshelearnedtheBritishwereapproachingquickly,sheacted.Shefamouslyorderedherservants,aswellasa15-year-oldhouseslavenamedPaulJenningsztotakedownapaintingofGeorqeWashington.Theservants,slaves,firstIadyzandpaintingallescapedtosafety.AviewfromthePotomacRiverofWashington,D.C.underattackbyBritishforcesunderMajorGeneralRosszAugust24,1814.CommandersoftheBritishforcetookagroupofmentotheCapitolbuildingandsetitonfire.Then,theywenttothepresident'shouse.Theyfoundthetablesetfordinner.TheBritishcommandersstoppedtotoastthepresidentbeforetheyburnedhishome.BythetimeWashington,D.C.burned,AmericanandBritishofficialswerealreadyinpeacetalks.ButintheU.S.,onemoremajorbattlewasbeingfought.AmilitiageneralnamedAndrewJacksonledaragtagarmyagainstaBritishattackinNewOrleans,Louisiana.TheAmericans/rainofbulletsandshellswassodead