Program Description

James Madison's political biography encompasses the stages of development, establishment, and maintenance of the American constitutional enterprise. The NEH Workshop, James Madison and Constitutional Citizenship, will review Madison's life through six phases, described below, that serve as a window into America's founding, linking political history and constitutional theory.

Examining these phases of Madison's life will provide participants in the NEH Landmarks Workshop with a profound understanding of the new vision of constitutional citizenship that is the foundation of the American nation. The six phases of Madison's life will be treated separately, one per day. Each morning will include a lecture, followed by discussion, conducted by a variety of faculty members.

The Workshops will include a strong focus on primary documents. Selections from Madison's written record will be used as evidence of his political ideas taking shape and being shared with others. They demonstrate Madison's awareness of the Constitution-making process—a process that includes much more than simply drafting a foundational text. This genesis of the American Constitution also remade the role and concept of citizenship. The new conceptualization of citizenship will be examined through the use of present-day documents outlining standards for civic and democratic education. All reading materials associated with the Workshops will be provided.

The Six Phases of Madison's Formative Years

Phase I: Madison's Formative Years — Intellectual and Political Preparation [1751-1785]

Madison employed an organized plan of study, reflection, and writing in the constitution-making process. He acquired knowledge beyond his own reflections, developing a mastery of fundamental ideas. At the same time, Madison gained an understanding of practical politics and human nature through his governmental service in Virginia and in the Continental Congress. Both his scholarship and understanding of politics are crucial to his preparation, and both will be examined for insights into a contemporary model of constitutional citizenship.

Phase II: The Young Political Advisor — Designing and Drafting [1768-1787]

At the time of the Constitutional Convention, Madison was persistently engaged in creative planning as well as pragmatic compromise. More than any other framer of the Constitution, he mixed talents for advocacy and cooperation to produce creative solutions.

Phase III: The Federalist Papers — Interpretation and Advocacy [1787-1788]

The Federalist is a work of political advocacy that represents an extraordinary act of interpreting an as-yet nonexistent political world, establishing the American theory of constitutionalism in advance of its implementation.

Phase IV: The Bill of Rights — Revisions and Accommodations [1789]

Madison deployed the concept of constitutional amendment, as a member of the House in the first Congress, conceiving an innovative Bill of Rights, adapted to the "Constitution," that acknowledges and protects liberties beyond those implicated by the form of government itself.

Phase V: Madison's Executive Years — Institutionalization and Incumbency [1801-1817]

The fleshing-out of the Constitution's "bare bones" was well underway by the conclusion of Madison's 16-year tenure in the executive branch. His career reflected both the Constitution's constraints and possibilities regarding the duties of Secretary of State and President.

Phase VI: The Statesman Retires — Memory and Consolidation [1817-1836]

Madison's work preparing the detailed record of the deliberation in the Convention of 1787 provided an unprecedented record of the creation of a new form of government. It also consolidated the Constitution as a document grounded in debate and discussion, and open to future changes, rather than as a final decree by founders to citizens.

Scholarship

Scholars presenting at previous offerings of James Madison and Constitutional Citizenship have included:

• William F. Harris, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania, and Founding Director and Academic Dean of the Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier.
• John Kaminski, Senior Scientist, University of Wisconsin at Madison, and Director of the Center for the Study of the American Constitution.
• Ralph Ketcham, Professor of History and Political Science Emeritus, Maxwell School at Syracuse University.
• Sue Leeson, Retired Associate Justice of the Oregan Supreme Court.
• Noah Pickus, Director, Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University, where he teaches at the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy and the Fuqua School of Business.
• Hunter R. Rawlings III, President Emeritus and Professor of Classics at Cornell University.
• Jeffrey Tulis, Political Science Professor, University of Texas at Austin.

Afternoon Sessions

Guided by Montpelier’s professional staff, you will explore one of the principal sites of the American founding and witness history re-emerging through the landmark restoration of James and Dolley Madison’s Montpelier. Afternoon activities will include:

"Interpreting the Montpelier Mansion." Featuring a detailed tour of the exhibits in the Montpelier Education Center that highlight the material culture of James and Dolley Madison. The exhibits include a gallery of furnishings owned by the Madisons, and re-creation of part of the Madison house, including the Madison Dining Room. Tour and discussion will be led by Allison Deeds, Acting Curator at Montpelier.

"Uncovering the Past at Montpelier." Montpelier's Archaeological Staff will lead tours of current projects and past discoveries at Montpelier. Led by Matthew Reeves, Ph.D., Montpelier's Director of Archaeology, and his staff.

"Montpelier's Natural History." Montpelier has over 2,700 acres of forest, pasture, and landscaped gardens and lawns. Participants will tour the landscape surrounding the main house, which includes trees from the Madison era as well as early 20th-century plantings, a two-acre formal garden, and the James Madison Landmark Forest, a 200-acre Old Growth Forest. The tour will be led by Sandy Mudrinich, Montpelier's Horticulturalist.

"The Gilmore Cabin and Civil War Encampment Tour." The walking tour includes one of the best-preserved Civil War winter encampment sites in Virginia. The program ends at the Gilmore Cabin and Freedman's Farm. Recently restored, the home was first constructed in 1873 by George Gilmore, who was born a slave at Montpelier in 1810. Led by Matthew Reeves, Ph.D., Montpelier's Director of Archaeology, and his staff.

"The Jefferson-Madison Friendship." An examination of the strong bond that existed between the two Virginia statesmen. Presentation by Beth Taylor, Ph.D., Montpelier's Director of Education.

"The Architectural Investigation and Restoration of the Montpelier Mansion." An explanation of how the investigation's results are being used in the restoration of the Madison-era mansion. The restoration is scheduled for completion in September 2008. Presentation by John Jeanes, Montpelier's Director of Restoration.

Download the 2006 NEH Landmarks Workshop agenda for a day-by-day preview of the week's events.