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While the Americans won a number of important victories, such as General William Henry Harrison’s defeat of indigenous leader Tecumseh and General Andrew Jackson’s victory against the British in the Battle of New Orleans, the British managed to do much damage, burning down Washington, D.C., including the White House and other government facilities.

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Running for a congressional seat in 1789, Madison competed with his opponent James Monroe in a tough race, promising the adoption of a series of amendments to the Constitution to limit the powers of the federal government.

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Despite being younger than many of his colleagues, he would ultimately become quite respected as prominent politician.

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His leadership during the early years of the nation is undeniably significant to the country’s history.

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During the Adams administration, Madison became a leading critic of the Alien and Sedition Acts, which sought to criminalize public opposition to Federalist foreign policy, calling them unconstitutional.

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The Federalists, who had opposed the conflict, lost their national popularity, and Madison’s successor, his friend and occasional rival James Monroe, who was serving as Secretary of State, won the election easily.

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Believing the Articles of Confederation did not support a federal government that was strong enough, Madison pushed for a convention to revise the documents.

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In this role, he would support the Louisiana Purchase and Jefferson’s trade embargoes with Britain and France. Madison became Jefferson’s natural successor, although his election was not assured, as the trade embargoes proved unpopular.

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An early supporter of the Washington administration, his support would decline as Washington seemed to favor the commercial and financial interests promoted by Alexander Hamilton and the Federalist Party, which drove Madison to join figures like Thomas Jefferson in supporting agricultural interests, forming the opposition party, the Democratic-Republicans.

10) _____________________________________________

Still, he managed to win over a sizeable amount of support, carrying the election.