Rather than being wholly essential to the structure of the United States’ government as the other articles i’m reviewing in this paper are, Federalist 10 gives great insight into the minds of the Federalist authors through Madison’s commentary on factions. I regard this commentary to be well written, conceptually brilliant, and beneficial to the understanding of how the Founders’ and specifically Madison's individual political theories may have contributed to the Constitution. Federalist 10 develops Madison’s answer to the problem of faction violence, something which Madison considers a “dangerous vice” (Madison) in republican …show more content…
Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires.” (Madison) The intent in the founding of the Unites States was to protect “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration of Independence), therefore such a method ideologically wouldn’t be correct. As I read it, the second method appeared familiar. Though it wouldn’t occur for another 146 years, this method seems to align exactly with the practices of Nazi Germany. By controlling the opinions, passions, and interests of their citizens, the Nazis successfully crushed other opposing factions at the cost of individuality. Though factions are theorized to be unavoidable by Madison as conflicting ideas, interests, and passions, are woven into the fabric of all societies by nature of man, he believes that violence from these factions can be broken apart and controlled by a well-constructed union. Madison then defines what he believes to be a well constructed union as a representative form of government in which the governing document checks the power of factions. This paper shows the Federalist’s true intent of creating a republican form of government, and gives the reader a glimpse into the negative alternatives such as no individual liberties or violent factions. The 39th Federalist Paper ties in directly with the 10th in proposing the creation of a republican government. In 10, Madison