James Madison

James Madison was one of the United States’s founding fathers and the primary writer of the American Constitution. Originally, his draft of the document did not include a Bill of Rights. Madison believed one to be unnecessary, because the Constitution did not explicitly give the government the power to restrict political and civil rights. Eventually, his views shifted and Madison wrote a series of amendments which served as the basis for the adopted Bill of Rights.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was one of the United States’s founding fathers and a close friend of James Madison. While serving as minister to France, Jefferson received a letter from Madison celebrating the completion of the Constitution. Jefferson, like many of contemporaries, was greatly concerned about the original lack of a Bill of Rights and strongly urged Madison to include one.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Oliver Wendell Holmes was...