Educator Seminar: Madison in Power: 1801-1817
Today James Madison is most famous for his part in drafting and defending the Constitution, editing the Bill of Rights, and founding the first political party. But about half of his career — 1801 through 1817 — was spent in the executive branch, first as Secretary of State for Thomas Jefferson and then as President in his own right. How did Madison strive to reconcile his political principles from the 1700s during his time in power in the 1800s? Did he succeed? Did he fail?
In this seminar, Dr. Jay Cost will look at Madison in Power. From the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, to the fraught negotiations with Britain and France to remain neutral in the Napoleonic Wars, to the War of 1812, and finally to the domestic reforms of 1815-17, we will see a Madison struggling to stay true to the guiding principles that informed his earlier years as America’s great constitutional theorist. In some instances, Madison was forced to update his ideas to acknowledge reality, like when he agreed to the Second Bank of the United States. But more often than not, we see a Madison who remains committed to the Constitution as he understood it, intent on finding common ground, and ultimately successful in more ways than he’s given credit for. His retirement in 1817 coincided with the dawn of the “Era of Good Feelings,” a period of political peace for which Madison deserves much of the credit.
About Jay Cost
Dr. Jay Cost is the Gerald R. Ford nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he focuses on elections, politics, and public opinion. He is also a visiting scholar at Grove City College and a contributing editor at the Washington Examiner. Dr. Cost currently teaches high school at a small school outside of Pittsburgh, Pa, where he lives with his wife and two children.
Dr. Cost’s interests are broadly focused on civic republicanism in the United States, with emphases on the political theory of James Madison, the problem of political corruption, the role of political parties, the development of civic institutions over time, and the power and responsibility of Congress. He writes and speaks frequently on American elections, with a special attention on placing contemporary trends in historical context.
His latest book, Democracy or Republic?: The People Under the Constitution, will be available for discounted purchase, and signing by Dr. Cost at the Seminar. His other books include “James Madison: America’s First Politician” (Basic Books, 2021); “The Price of Greatness: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and the Creation of American Oligarchy” (Basic Books, June 2018); and “A Republic No More: Big Government and the Rise of Political Corruption” (Encounter Books, 2015). Dr. Cost has a PhD and an MA in political science from the University of Chicago and a BA in government and history from the University of Virginia.
