It is the minds of powerful and brilliant thinkers from every era of history that have led to the world we live in today. James Madison made a positive impact on the United States through his many political actions. During the Constitutional Convention, Madison created the Virginia plan. While he was the secretary of state, he acquired the Louisiana Territory. While he was the fourth president of the United States, he lead the country defiantly against the British during the War of 1812. While some believe that Madison’s leadership during the War was inadequate, when one looks at the historical facts, it becomes very clear that he attempted to lead the United States the best he could. As a Founding Father, Madison’s contributions were used
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As Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson, James Madison famously acquired the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. This 530 million acre territory was previously owned by France. Due to Madison’s clever negotiation, the Territory was given to the USA at an expense of $15 million (Louisiana Purchase, n.d.). This landmark exchange nearly doubled the size of the country, giving a surge of excitement amongst the American people to expand the country westward. This action had been strategically taken after Spain had ceded the territory back to France in 1800, and both Jefferson and Madison feared that Napoleon would attempt to reclaim New Orleans from the United States (Steinberg 160-161) (compound sentence). After fighting against France’s navy less than a decade prior with the Quasi War, the US was not intent on fighting France again so quickly. It is careful thinking such as this that made Madison so brilliant. The acquisition of Louisiana not only resulted in Manifest Destiny, - the belief that it was God’s intent for the United States to expand all the way to the west coast - but it also resulted in new lands still owned by the US to this day. Major historical events such as the Kansas-Nebraska Act that defined where our country stands today would not have happened had the United States not purchased Louisiana. Madison’s strategic and wise thinking prevented another war with France and the potential loss of New Orleans, a major port
As Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson, James Madison famously acquired the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. This 530 million acre territory was previously owned by France. Due to Madison’s clever negotiation, the Territory was given to the USA at an expense of $15 million (Louisiana Purchase, n.d.). This landmark exchange nearly doubled the size of the country, giving a surge of excitement amongst the American people to expand the country westward. This action had been strategically taken after Spain had ceded the territory back to France in 1800, and both Jefferson and Madison feared that Napoleon would attempt to reclaim New Orleans from the United States (Steinberg 160-161) (compound sentence). After fighting against France’s navy less than a decade prior with the Quasi War, the US was not intent on fighting France again so quickly. It is careful thinking such as this that made Madison so brilliant. The acquisition of Louisiana not only resulted in Manifest Destiny, - the belief that it was God’s intent for the United States to expand all the way to the west coast - but it also resulted in new lands still owned by the US to this day. Major historical events such as the Kansas-Nebraska Act that defined where our country stands today would not have happened had the United States not purchased Louisiana. Madison’s strategic and wise thinking prevented another war with France and the potential loss of New Orleans, a major port