ABSTRACT
James Madison’s role was as one of the authors of the famous Federalist Papers, which were first published in New York newspapers as letters favoring ratification. Madison’s best-remembered act was to flee Washington when the English took the city and burned the White House and the Capitol. In fact, Madison lost several battles during the convention. He favored a stronger federal government. He wanted Congress to have the power to strike down state laws. Madison was among the earliest and most energetic of the small group of men, who are called the nationalists. Madison’s best-remembered act was to flee Washington when the English took the city and burned the White House and the Capitol. Madison helped engineer the calling of the Annapolis Convention in September of 1786 and helped write the report of that convention, which ended with a call for all the states to send delegates to Philadelphia in May 1787.
