Purpose:

James Madison was perhaps the wisest of the Founding Fathers of the United States. As an author of its Constitution, The Federalist Papers and the Bill of Rights, he provided both the intellectual framework and rigorous analysis that were essential ingredients to organizing the nation's government. March 4, 2009 marks the beginning of the bi-centennial of his eight years of service as the fourth President of the United States. To commemorate this auspicious period, Americans for Madison has been organized by Hadley Nagel to lead an initiative to celebrate his key role in our nation's formation and refresh the Public's recollection of his insightful thinking. Much like his own belief in the ability of the individual to change society, through the enhanced strength and power that comes from organizing a collective effort it is hoped that our bi-centennial effort will empower and further his time-tested ideas to serve the nation as it continues to face the challenges Madison initially contemplated as we grapple with developing yet another two hundred years of American history.

Project:
As an American for Madison there are things you can do through this Web site in support of the memory of James Madison and in celebration of the bi-centennial of his Presidency:

 (1)  Write all your National Legislators in Washington and ask them to support HR 992.
 
 
Click here to contact Congress
  
 (2)  Find and read the very words of James Madison and contemplate their meaning for the future of the U.S.

 (3)  Attend an event or exhibit that celebrates or discusses the thinking of James Madison.

 (4)  Make an effort to discuss with someone James Madison and his life and/or thinking.

 (5)  Identify at least one idea of James Madison that you find personally appealing.

 (6)   Offer an educational institution assistance in engaging a Constitution Day Speaker or Section 111 Compliant Program through Americans for Madison.

Hadley Nagel—Founder, Americans for Madison
Hodson Trust Scholar at Johns Hopkins University (Class of 2013); graduate of The Nightingale-Bamford School (Class of 2009) 

James G. Basker—President of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and the Richard Gilder Professor of Literary History at Barnard College, Columbia University

Joseph J. Ellis—Ford Foundation Professor of History at Mt. Holyoke College.

Robert P. George—McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University

Ralph Ketcham—Professor Emeritus at Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs,
Syracuse University

Michael C. Quinn—President of The Montpelier Foundation

J.C.A. Stagg—Editor in Chief of the James Madison Papers and Professor, Corcoran Department of History, University of Virginia

Sean Wilentz—General Editor of the James Madison Library in American Politics and Sidney and Ruth Lapidus Professor in the American Revolutionary Era at Princeton University

Gordon S. Wood—Alva O. Way University Professor at Brown University

*Board in formation