James Madison's 'The Federalist No. 10'

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James Madison’s “The Federalist No.10” is the tenth essay of the federalist papers, a series of essays arguing for the ratification of the Constitution. The essay primarily concerns with the issue of a factions, specifically the violence and damage they cause in popular governments. Madison defines factions as “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.” Factions cause “instability, injustice, and confusion”, often leading governments to perish. Madison goes on to propose two solutions for the issue of factions. The first is removing the reason of their existence, liberty, and the other is to give …show more content…
On the other hand, men of factions or of evil or prejudice motives may betray the interests of the citizens. Yet, in larger republics consisting of more citizens, representatives will be more likely elected based on merit and in general it would be more difficult for them to get elected. The second key difference is that a republic will allow for a greater number of citizens and more territory. More citizens and territory make it more difficult for factions to consolidate because there will be a greater variety of parties and interests. Also, it will make it less likely that citizens are able to come together as a majority over a common issue or motive. The influence of factious leaders will only extend within their states and not spread to other states under the Union. States are therefore crucial in retaining the influence of factions and to keep factions from becoming a majority. Madison concludes that a republic would serve the United States the best as it is able to control factions and prevent tyranny of the
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