Madison played a part in the Enlightenment by using inspiration from the European philosophers as inspiration for his documents. The Federalist Papers especially feature many of these ideas, such as checks and balances and separation of powers. This idea was first introduced by the Baron Montesquieu in his De l’Esprit des Loix, where he addresses his idea of the separation of powers in 1748. This idea would become the basis of what Madison would use to create the branches of the American government - legislative (Senate and House of Representatives), judicial (Supreme and lower courts), and executive (the President).

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One of Madison's most important contributions to society was the Federalist Papers (in collaboration with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay). Along with many other famous Enlightenment thinkers (such as Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson), Madison adapted and invented new ideas that sparked a change in North America. He especially showed interest in political change. In fact, he and John Adams fueled the idea that a non-democratic government was the best way to govern the people of America.

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Madison used the political ideas of the Enlightenment to rethink the American government, responding to the demand for a bill of rights by reviewing over two-hundred proposals and rewriting them to issue twelve suggested amendments to the Constitution. In these, he included the freedom of speech, religion, press; the right to bear arms, and rights in court and law. Many of these ideas came from French philosophes in Europe, including Voltaire, John Lock, and Thomas Hobbes.

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In correspondence with Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin, Madison helped to write, edit, and publish the American Constitution, which his nickname of the "Father of the Constitution" derives from. The main ideas - "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" - come from John Locke's idea of human nature, that everyone is born with "natural rights", being life, liberty and property.