Founding Fathers’ Foundations (Part 3 of 3)

The last estate we visited was James Madison’s Montpelier. George Washington also has estates in the Virginia, but I ran out of time and didn’t get to visit Mount Vernon – hopefully next time.

Montpelier was built by Madison’s father as the family home and was later enlarged by James and Dolley after their marriage. It is similar in size to main structure of Monticello

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James Madison was the 4^th President of the US, the architect of the Constitution, and author of the Bill of Rights. His plan formed the three branches of government to provide checks and balances – the very same checks and balances that show signs of erosion in recent times.  Initially opposed to a bill of rights that might exclude important rights, Madison saw that the Constitution wouldn’t be ratified by the states without one.

Madison’s wife, Dolley worked behind the scenes both as hostess in the White House during Jefferson’s presidency (he was a widower at the time) as well as during her husband’s tenure as president.

In the cellars a new exhibit called The Mere Distinction of Colour depicts the life and time of slaves.  It includes accounts from descendants of slaves recounting events as told to them by those who lived and worked in the plantations.

James Madison didn’t quite make it to July 4th, passing away on June 28th, 1836.

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