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Meet Amazing Americans U.S. Presidents James Madison
 
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This document shows that the Constitutional Convention had decided to meet again, on May 14, 1787.
This document shows that the Constitutional Convention had decided to meet again, on May 14, 1787.

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James Madison's Contribution to the Constitution
When James Madison and the other 56 delegates to the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia in May 1787, they intended to amend the Articles of Confederation. They ended up creating a new constitution, and Madison, representing Virginia, became the chief recorder of information (he took a lot of notes).

Madison had helped develop Virginia's Constitution 11 years earlier, and it was his "Virginia Plan" that served as the basis for debate in the development of the U.S. Constitution. Madison argued strongly for a strong central government that would unify the country. The Convention delegates met secretly through the summer and finally signed the proposed U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. Did this mean that the Constitution automatically became the law of the land?

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