Graduating in 1771 from Princeton, where tradition tells of the part he took in patriotic demonstrations on the campus--characteristic of students then as now--he had thrown himself heart and soul into the American cause.

He was a member of the convention to frame the first State Constitution for Virginia in 1776, and from that time on, because of his ability, he was an important figure in the political history of his State and of his country.

He was largely responsible for bringing about the conference between Virginia and Maryland and for the subsequent steps resulting in the trade convention at Annapolis.

And yet Madison seldom took a conspicuous part, preferring to remain in the background and to allow others to appear as the leaders.

When the Annapolis Convention assembled, for example, he suffered Alexander Hamilton of New York to play the leading role.
Hamilton was then approaching thirty years of age and was one of the ablest men in the United States.