The Federalist No. 10

The Federalist No. 10 As you read Federalist No. 10 through a political science lens, you will focus on the argument for why a republic is a suitable government for a large country. Pay attention to how Madison supports this claim. Political scientists focus their analysis on the defense of the Constitution by those men who constructed and then advocated for it. Consider how Madison develops an argument about how a large republic can best ensure individual rights. Consider the counter-argument he is answering or rebutting and how doing this reflects an awareness of comparison. Brutus No. 1 is paired with this text. Try and predict what the arguments are in opposition to Madison’s defense of the then-new government created at the Constitutional Convention. Federalist 10 From the New York Packet. Friday, November 23, 1787. Author: James Madison To the People of the State of New York: AMONG the numerous advantages promised by a well-constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction. The friend of popular governments never finds himself so much alarmed for their character and fate, as when he contemplates their propensity to this dangerous vice. … By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community. … Academic Vocabulary Paraphrase Madison’s definition of a faction in the space below the text. What danger does Madison say factions present to the rights of other citizens? From this view of the subject it may be concluded that a pure democracy, by which I mean a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person common passion or interest will, in almost every case, be felt by a majority of the whole; a communication and concert result from the form of government itself; and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party or an obnoxious individual. Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. Theoretic politicians, who have patronized this species of government, have erroneously supposed that by reducing mankind to a perfect equality in their political rights, they would, at the same time, be perfectly equalized and assimilated in their possessions, their opinions, and their passions. Check Your Understanding What is a “pure democracy” according to Madison? Source Analysis Highlight or underline the claim Madison makes regarding a pure democracy’s ability to handle factions. Academic Vocabulary A republic, by which I mean a government in which the scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect, and promises the cure for which we are seeking. Let us examine the points in which it varies from pure democracy, and we shall comprehend both the nature of the cure and the efficacy which it must derive from the Union. Paraphrase what Madison means by a republic in the space below the text. The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest; secondly g Source Analysis The effect of the first difference is, on the one hand, to refine and enlarge the public views, by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country, and whose patriotism and love of justice will be least likely to sacrifice it to temporary or partial considerations well happen that the public voice, pron ed On the other hand, the effect may be inverted. Men of factious tempers, of local prejudices, or of sinister designs, may, by intrigue, by corruption, or by other means, first obtain the suffrages, and then betray the interests, of the people. The question resulting is, whether small or extensive republics are more favorable to the election of proper guardians of the public weal; and it is clearly decided in favor of the latter by two obvious considerations: Source Analysis In the first place, it is to be remarked that, however small the republic may be, the representatives must be raised to a certain number, in order to guard against the cabals of a few; and that, however large it may be, they must be limited to a certain number, in order to guard against the confusion of a multitude. Hence, the number of representatives in the two cases not being in proportion to that of the two constituents, and being proportionally greater in the small republic, it follows that, if the proportion of fit characters be not less in the large than in the small republic, the former will present a greater option, and consequently a greater probability of a fit choice. factious: caused by a faction; inclined to form a faction cabal: a group of people secretly united in a plot Highlight or underline the claim Madison makes about why a republic is the best form of government. Circle the evidence on this page that Madison uses to support his claim about the best form of government. Connect to the Content How is what Madison describes on this page evident in the structure of the U.S. Government? *In the next place, as each representative will be chosen by a greater number of citizens in the large than in the small republic, it will be more difficult for unworthy candidates to practice with success the vicious arts by which elections are too often carried; and the suffrages of the people being more free, will be more likely to centre in men who possess the most attractive merit and the most diffusive and established characters. Check Your Understanding According to Madison, how does the larger number of voters lead to a better class of representatives? Source Analysis It must be confessed that in this, as in most other cases, there is a mean, on both sides of which inconveniences will be found to lie reducing it too much li The federal Constitution forms a happy combination in this respect; the great and aggregate interests being referred to the national, the local and particular to the State legislatures. How does Madison continue to develop the idea he introduced earlier regarding the “just right” proportion of representatives to citizens or constituents? The other point of difference is, the greater number of citizens and extent of territory which may be brought within the compass of republican than of democratic government; and it is this circumstance principally which renders factious combinations less to be dreaded in the former than in the latter. The smaller the society, the fewer probably will be the distinct parties and interests composing it; the fewer the distinct parties and interests, the more frequently will a majority be found of the same party; and the smaller the number of individuals composing a majority, and the smaller the compass within which they are placed, the more easily will they concert and execute their plans of oppression. r if such a common motive exists, it will be more difficult for all who feel it to discover their own strength, and to act in unison with each other. Besides other impediments, it may be remarked that, where there is a consciousness of unjust or dishonorable purposes, communication is always checked by distrust in proportion to the number whose concurrence is necessary. Source Analysis Here, Madison is expanding on an earlier point about the advantages of a large republic over a smaller one. Underline what he is saying about how factions will be better managed in a large republic than in a small one. How is that connected to protecting the rights of the people? After You Read Thinking Like a Political Scientist Reasoning Process: Comparison Use the table below to outline the comparison Madison made during his argument. Republic Pure Democracy Dealing with Factions Structure of Government How does Madison use comparison to bolster his argument? Political Science Disciplinary Practices Source Analysis What was Madison’s purpose in defining terms such as faction, pure democracy, and republic? How does this strategy help to further his purpose? Cite the evidence that was most useful in supporting Madison’s claim about the best form of government.