Question

Read these passages from James Madison’s notes on the Constitutional Convention. Which statement would Madison most likely have agreed with, and why?

a) Martin’s statement because Madison did not think that the legislative branch of the federal government should regulate trade
b) Martin’s statement because Madison believed that the practice of slavery contradicted the principles of the new government
c) Rutledge’s statement because Madison also wanted to bring an eventual end to the slave trade in the United States
d) Rutledge’s statement because Madison opposed the federal government’s policy of taxation

Answer 1

Option (a), James Madison would likely agree with Rutledge's statement because of his advocacy for a strong central government with broad powers, including taxation and veto over state laws.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the passages, James Madison would most likely have agreed with Rutledge's statement because Madison had a clear vision of a strong central government with the power to tax and to exercise a veto over state laws. In terms of the federal government's right to regulate trade, including the slave trade, Madison's influence and political ideas suggest that he would recognize the federal government's power in such matters.

This is consistent with his tract, 'Vices of the Political System of the United States,' where he lamented the encroachment of the states on the federal government, indicating his preference for a stronger central government that could address the 'common interest' and apply a cohesive national policy. Moreover, during the Constitutional Convention, Madison was a proponent of a new outline of government rather than simply revising the Articles of Confederation, which reflects his desire to endow the federal government with greater authority.