Happy birthday, Jemmy! On this day in 1751, James Madison, Jr.—founder, patriot, “father of the Constitution,” and fourth president of the United States—was born at his mother’s family home in Port Conway, a hamlet on the Rappahannock River in Virginia’s northern neck.
His parents, James, Sr. and Nellie, took him home to their 5,000-acre tobacco plantation in Orange County, where he grew up the oldest of 12 children. (Montpelier, the Madison estate, was built down the road a piece during the 1760s.)
Madison first came to Williamsburg as a 25-year old representative to the Fifth Virginia Convention in 1776. The mild-mannered Jemmy was prone to bouts of illness, but he achieved power and influence through the sheer power of his intellect.
Since we can’t give you a cake, we instead offer a Tavern Debate featuring an imagined conversation between Mr. Madison and Abigail Adams on a subject that has perennial relevance: loyalty in politics.
You see, while Madison did much to contribute to the Revolutionary cause, and to help frame the Constitution, and then to secure a Bill of Rights, he proved to be a bit of a thorn in the side to the Washington and Adams administrations.
Madison quietly aided the creation of the United States’ first opposition party, the Democratic-Republicans in the 1790s. This was accomplished in part by supporting a media network of sorts, a chain of newspapers run by like-minded editors who rallied arguments against, for example, the much-hated Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798.
So that’s what’s on Abigail’s mind as the two discuss current affairs in Williamsburg’s Shields Tavern. Why, she wonders, are people like Madison and Thomas Jefferson encouraging faction? Where is their loyalty, and what will happen to the nation if we undermine our chosen leaders?
See how Jemmy answers, and weigh in on what you think about the parallels to today’s political battles.
Happy 265th, Mr. Madison!
Melissa says
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their CREATOR with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Why did you change it to NATURE?
Melissa,
Could you clarify your question? Whose change are you referring to, and where? It seems like you might be speaking of Thomas Jefferson’s reference to “nature’s God” in the Declaration of Independence.
Mike says
I think I know what Melissa is talking about. At 1:44 of the video, Madison says Liberty is derived from nature. That seems a little PC.
What a great debate! This is one of many issues worth considering even today.
Good one, Bill. Just posted on the YWC FB page.
EXCELLENT! If you will pardon me, THIS is the kind of thing you should have put out at the Super Bowl, in shortened version of course. Any money in the advertising budget to get this out to the public? A series of 60 second slots - “Abigail’s answer coming up next!” Talk about relevancy. And reassuring - as scary as our present times are, times past got just as scary and we made it through. . . . . .
I agree! This is the type of information they should be putting out in their commercials. They have so much to choose from.
Also, would have folks in 18th century Williamsburg, gone around wishing each other “Happy Birthday” or was it more a private family affair??
Thank you. We’re definitely trying to show that these are enduring debates we have as a people, and we hope that showing this will help motivate people to be engaged citizens. But, of course, we’re trying lots of different ways of delivering that message. And I do love your idea about how to do that!
This conversation can take place today! The more things change the more they stay the same! Love this post. Thanks.
Thank you!