Who are the Founding Fathers? James Madison

James Madison of Virginia is not the most popular Founding Father, that title rightfully resides with George Washington. But James Madison can be argued to be the most influential Founder in the creation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. He served as Delegate, US Representative from Virginia, Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson, and 4th President of the United States.

The oldest child in a family of twelve, he grew up on his father's plantation, Montpelier, in Orange County, Virginia. In 1762, James Madison went to his first school, located in King and Queen County, Virginia. At the age of 16, he returned to Montpelier to continue his education with a tutor. In August 1769, James began college at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), graduating in the spring of 1771.

237 Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, December 16, 1773

 

DECEMBER 16, 1773
The North American Colonies of the United Kingdom by the mid 1760 consumed over 1 Million Pounds of Tea annually, most of which was produced in another British territory, India. The main supplier of Tea to the colonies was the East India Company. But the East India Company was not allowed to sell its tea directly to the Colonies rather it had to sell its tea in London auction houses, before it was shipped to North America, this drove up prices of the imported product in the Colonies. This increase in the cost resulted in a very prolific smuggling market for tea which could be acquired at much lower costs.

This smuggling took a heavy toll on the East India Company in terms of revenue from Tea. By 1772 the East India company owed the British Government of 1 Million Sterling Pounds from loans, yet it still could not turn a profit over the smuggling market and the inflated costs of their own tea having to go through London Auction first.

Bill of Rights Day: December 15

On this day in 1791 the First Ten Amendments were ratified by the State of Virginia (the 10th State to do so), putting them into effect.

The Bill of rights mean different things to different people, but to all they mean a Free Society. 12 Amendments were proposed by the Congress in 1789, 11 are now Amendments to the Constitution (Amendments 1-10 and 27). Today the Constitution has 27 Amendments, but these 10 are the most known.

The Founders and Gun control

I read today Justice Breyer stating the Founder wanted Gun Control ( http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/12/12/breyer-founding-fathers-allowed-restrictions-guns/ ) His contention is regards to Madison whom he states as saying, "was worried about opponents who would think Congress would call up state militias and nationalize them. 'That can't happen,' said Madison,". Justice Breyer's assertion is that Madison was only wanting to get the Constitution ratified (Madison was very concerned about this) and he was willing to do what was needed to do it (This slaps history's senses in the face).

Their are two huge problems with Breyer's assertion.
1. Madison initially felt the Bill of rights was unneeded. So if we are to use Breyer's logic, should the whole Bill of Rights be disregarded because Madison did not believe it was needed? Madison became the Father of the Bill of Rights (with George Mason), not because he believed them necessary, but because both his State REQUIRED it for their approval of the Constitution, as did several other States.

2. One man did not Ratify the Bill of rights. Even though he was very instrumental in the drafting, it still took 2/3 of each brach and 3/4 of the States to Ratify them. It matters what THEY felt they meant, not just a sole person.
Breyer also makes one more point, the single biggest which I think leads to the dismissal of his assertion, "Founding Father James Madison was more worried that the Constitution may not be ratified than he was about granting individuals the right to bear arms". Only a pragmatist who is willing to view the Constitution not for what it is, but what he thinks it should be, would ever think for second, that the Founding Founders thought they were granting the People any Rights, instead of what they were doing, which was Granting Rights Already solely possessed by the People to Government, for the sole purpose of protecting ALL of their rights.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/12/12/breyer-founding-fathers-allowed-restrictions-guns/#ixzz17vmxYmCK

General Welfare (Part 7) The Federalist presentation.

Following the Constitution Convention of 1787, the next order of business was to present the proposed Constitution to the States for ratification, and more importantly, convince a skeptical public that is should be ratified. From this two main groups formed, one called the Federalist with the other being the Anti-Federalist. Each wrote numerous Articles either for or against the Ratification of the Constitution. For the Federalist, the Federalist Papers are by far the most commonly known writings attributed to the Federalist, though other Pro-Federalist writings did also get published.