James Madison

Why Did Madison Write the Second Amendment?

by Carl T. Bogus

Understanding the political peril that ensnared both the pre-ratification Constitution and James Madison himself makes it clear that the Second Amendment was written to ensure that southern state militias would be sufficiently armed to suppress slave revolts even if abolitionists controlled Washington. 

Lizzo's Duet With History (and Madison's Crystal Flute)

by Grace B. McGowan and Ravynn K. Stringfield

Performing with the treasured national relic of a slaveholding President forced Americans to ask who owns antiquities, and has the right to tell their story. The controversy over the event shows that these are still contested questions. 

The History of State Interposition Shows Federalism is a Deliberative Process, not a Set of Rules

by Christian G. Fritz

The efforts of state legislatures to oppose federal law have been varied. In sum, they show that the Supreme Court cannot dictate the distribution of power under federalism; Americans will have to keep figuring it out as we go, through political deliberation.

Lizzo Talks About the Flute

The pop superstar touches on numerous subjects, including making history belong to everyone and the historical relationship of racist and sexist stereotyping of Black women's performances looking back to Josephine Baker. 

What Lizzo Can Teach the Right about History

Commentator Mona Charen writes that Lizzo's embrace of an artifact of the founding generation should be welcomed by conservatives, who claim to stand for a history shared by all Americans without regard for identity. 

Thinking and Teaching the Implications of Federalist #10 for Democracy

by Jeff Schneider

Teachers of Constitutional history must push their students to understand something difficult: James Madison's vision of the "public good" is a vision of elite rule that today stands in the way of democratic solutions to society's problems. 

New Approach at Montpelier: Let All Voices Rise

After a controversial battle over how to incorporate the descendants of people enslaved by James Madison, Montpelier is beginning to highlight artifacts—and the process of discovering them—related to the lives of enslaved people at the estate. 

What Would Madison Think of Originalism? Depends When You Asked Him

by Don Fraser

James Madison moved away from a strict constructionist position based on public necessity and acceptance of legislation based in implied powers. Whatever one can say about the originalist legal theory behind the leaked Dobbs opinion, it's not Madisonian. 

Why the Voices of the Enslaved's Descendants Matter at Montpelier and Other Historic Sites

by Stephen P. Hanna, Amy Potter and Derek H. Alderman

Descendant communities have put themselves front and center in discussions of how to discuss slavery at public monuments to the nation's founders, which is vital to ensuring that the significance of slavery is not minimized. 

Inside the Reversal of the Montpelier Board

The board approved the appointment of 11 members nominated by the Montpelier Descendants Committee, and the resignation of the board chair who led the resistance to the appointments is pending. 

Montpelier Board Pushes Back Against Accusation they Excluded Descendants' Committee Leadership

The Montpelier Foundation board argues that the organization representing the descendants of those enslaved at James Madison's estate has rejected good faith cooperation in order to score political points in the latest escalation of the battle over how the Founder's relationship to slavery should be portrayed. 

Montpelier Descendants Call Foul on Board over Firings

The firing of three senior staff members who support the involvement of the Montpelier Descendants Committee in the public presentation of James Madison's estate, and the slavery practiced there, has raised questions about whether Montpelier is committed to historical honesty. 

Reversal on Power-Sharing Shows Montpelier Really Wants to Stop Talking About Slavery

by Michael Paul Williams

“They wanted to yank the narrative of Montpelier away from slavery, despite all of their protestations to the contrary,” said board member James French, chair of the Montpelier Descendants Committee.

Montpelier Staffers: We Were Fired for Backing Descendants' Group

The firings suggest that there is a backlash by members of the Montpelier board against recent changes in the presentation of James Madison's participation in slavery. 

National Trust Condemns Actions Against Staff at Montpelier

"The National Trust strongly condemns these actions against highly regarded and nationally recognized professionals, which will impede the effective stewardship of Montpelier and diminish important public programming at this highly significant historic site."  

WaPo Editorial: Montpelier Estate Board Shredding Agreement to Include Descendants of Enslaved in Decisionmaking

The Post Editorial Board says "Montpelier has a problem. It has gone from being a model for other such sites nationwide to being an embarrassment."

Madison's Montpelier Board Strips Power from Enslaved Descendants' Group

"Matt Reeves, the director of archaeology said he fears the effort to cut off the committee is aimed at undoing years of progress in conveying a more honest and complete view of history. 'They really want a narrative that’s restricted to nothing that’s negative about James Madison'.”

Montpelier Board Abandons Promises to Descendants of Enslaved

by Montpelier Descendants Committee

Montpelier Descendants' Committee founder James French contends that the group "will not be deterred from our mission to contribute to uniting the country by telling a more complete and truthful history of our founding, including the full role of its indispensable ‘invisible founders'.”

Montpelier Board Appoints 11 Members from Descendants Committee

The move may finally deliver on the board's promise to grant parity in the governance of the James Madison estate to the descendants of persons enslaved at Montpelier. 

What if the Constitution is the Source of Democratic Erosion?

by Noah Feldman

James Madison feared from the beginning that the design of the US Senate was contrary to the core principles of a democratic republic. A Harvard Law professor says that if the nation can survive with a fundamentally undemocratic institution at the heart of the government, partisan gerrymandering might not be too bad.