James Madison is remembered as "the Father of the Constitution." He helped arrange the convention of 1787 at which the Constitution was written. He was a leading promoter and defender of the document during the ratification process, when it had to be formally approved by nine of the thirteen states in order to go into effect. He championed the first ten amendments that form the Bill of Rights (see James Madison primary source entry in volume 1).

Madison's efforts with the Constitution reflected his particular strengths. Skillful in debate and level-headed, he was able to balance ideals and realities, conviction and compromise. Standing just five feet, four inches tall and weighing around 100 pounds, he was the smallest of all U.S. presidents. Small in stature but large in character, he helped find practical ways to establish a republican form of government that represented the will of the people...