Understanding Understanding Federalist 10Federalist 10

Mr. BarclayMr. Barclay

AP Government and PoliticsAP Government and Politics

Alisal High SchoolAlisal High School

Learning Learning ObjectivesObjectives

Identify the significance of the Identify the significance of the Federalist Papers Federalist Papers to an understanding of the American Constitution.to an understanding of the American Constitution.

Describe the causes and consequences of faction.Describe the causes and consequences of faction. Explain why Madison believed that a republican Explain why Madison believed that a republican

government was superior to a direct democracy.government was superior to a direct democracy. Describe Madison’s solution to the problem of Describe Madison’s solution to the problem of

faction.faction. Identify some provisions of the U.S. Constitution Identify some provisions of the U.S. Constitution

that reflect the political philosophy contained in that reflect the political philosophy contained in Federalist 10Federalist 10..

Key TermsKey Terms

The Federalist PapersThe Federalist Papers FactionsFactions Pure DemocracyPure Democracy RepublicRepublic

The Federalist The Federalist PapersPapers

They were essays written in 1787 They were essays written in 1787 by James Madison, John Jay, and by James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton under the Alexander Hamilton under the penname of Publiuspenname of Publius

Their purpose was to advocate the Their purpose was to advocate the ratification of the new constitution ratification of the new constitution by the statesby the states

They are an authoritative but They are an authoritative but unofficial explanation of American unofficial explanation of American government by those who created itgovernment by those who created it

Federalist 10Federalist 10 Madison wrote Madison wrote Federalist 10Federalist 10 to counter the to counter the

argument that democracies inevitably argument that democracies inevitably dissolve into turmoil and disorder caused by dissolve into turmoil and disorder caused by factions which ignore the national interest factions which ignore the national interest in favor of their own interests.in favor of their own interests.

The consensus of late 19The consensus of late 19thth century political century political thought was that a monarchy was needed to thought was that a monarchy was needed to restrain the destructive tendency of faction.restrain the destructive tendency of faction.

Today, the opponents of democracy make Today, the opponents of democracy make similar arguments in behalf of similar arguments in behalf of undemocratic forms of government.undemocratic forms of government.

What is a faction?What is a faction?A number of A number of citizens, either a citizens, either a minority or a minority or a majority that are majority that are united by a united by a common impulse common impulse or passion adverse or passion adverse to the rights of to the rights of other citizens or other citizens or the best interests the best interests of the community.of the community.

What causes What causes faction?faction?

Madison says they are “sown in the Madison says they are “sown in the nature of man”nature of man”

People have different opinions People have different opinions about religion, government, about religion, government, political leaders . . . political leaders . . .

The most common cause of faction The most common cause of faction is the “various and unequal is the “various and unequal distribution of property. Those distribution of property. Those who hold and those who are who hold and those who are without property have ever formed without property have ever formed distinct interests in society.”distinct interests in society.”

Why are factions a Why are factions a problem?problem?

The most powerful The most powerful faction will faction will control the control the government and government and make decisions make decisions based not on the based not on the common good but common good but to benefit itself. to benefit itself. Both other groups Both other groups and the common and the common good will suffer.good will suffer.

The Dilemma of Pure The Dilemma of Pure DemocracyDemocracy

In a pure democracy, In a pure democracy, the people assemble the people assemble and administer the and administer the government in person.government in person.

Pure democracy can Pure democracy can only exist in a small only exist in a small geographical area.geographical area.

Pure democracies Pure democracies inevitably fall victim to inevitably fall victim to the mischief of faction.the mischief of faction.

Pure democracies fail Pure democracies fail because they are because they are unable to protect unable to protect individual liberty and individual liberty and the rights of property.the rights of property.

Founders like Madison saw Greek Founders like Madison saw Greek Democracy as “messy” and unsuitable Democracy as “messy” and unsuitable for the new nation….for the new nation….

Would Removing the Would Removing the Causes of Faction Causes of Faction

Solve the Problem?Solve the Problem? No. Destroying No. Destroying

the liberty that the liberty that allows faction to allows faction to develop is a cure develop is a cure worse than the worse than the disease.disease.

Giving everyone Giving everyone the same opinion the same opinion is impractical.is impractical.

Controlling the Effects of Controlling the Effects of FactionFaction

If a faction is less If a faction is less than a majority, then than a majority, then rely on majority rule rely on majority rule to control it.to control it.

If a faction is in the If a faction is in the majority, then rely on majority, then rely on the type of political the type of political system to control it.system to control it.

The cure to the The cure to the problem of factions problem of factions is is a large republica large republic..

A Republic is Different A Republic is Different from a Pure from a Pure DemocracyDemocracy

In a republic, the In a republic, the citizens elect citizens elect representatives to representatives to make policy decisions make policy decisions and administer the and administer the government on their government on their behalf.behalf.

A republic can be A republic can be established in a larger established in a larger country than can a country than can a pure democracy pure democracy because of its because of its representative nature.representative nature.

What are the What are the advantages of a large advantages of a large

republic?republic? A large republic provides a bigger A large republic provides a bigger

candidate pool from which to select fit candidate pool from which to select fit leaders.leaders.

A large electorate is less likely to A large electorate is less likely to select undesirable leaders than is a select undesirable leaders than is a small electorate.small electorate.

A larger territory will include a greater A larger territory will include a greater diversity of interests than will a diversity of interests than will a smaller territory.smaller territory.

A majority faction is therefore unlikely A majority faction is therefore unlikely to emerge in a large territory.to emerge in a large territory.

The Dilemma of The Dilemma of District SizeDistrict Size

In a In a largelarge electoral electoral district, the representative district, the representative may be may be too little too little acquaintedacquainted with local with local interestsinterests and and circumstances to circumstances to represent them effectively.represent them effectively.

In a In a smallsmall electoral electoral district, the representative district, the representative may be may be too attached to too attached to local issueslocal issues and and unconcerned or unable to unconcerned or unable to comprehend national comprehend national concerns.concerns.

The federal The federal solutionsolution

The federal system provides a The federal system provides a “happy combination,” as “happy combination,” as Madison put it. The national Madison put it. The national government deals with national government deals with national issues while the state issues while the state governments address local governments address local issues.issues.

SummarySummary Madison wrote Federalist 10 to defend the Madison wrote Federalist 10 to defend the

Constitution against the charge that a faction Constitution against the charge that a faction would soon gain control, substituting its own would soon gain control, substituting its own interest for the national interest.interest for the national interest.

The antidote to the problem of faction, Madison The antidote to the problem of faction, Madison declared, is a large republic with a multiplicity declared, is a large republic with a multiplicity of interests, making it unlikely that a majority of interests, making it unlikely that a majority faction will form.faction will form.

Review questionReview question

Does Madison consider factions Does Madison consider factions to be good or bad?to be good or bad?

AnswerAnswerBoth. Madison defined a faction as Both. Madison defined a faction as a number of citizens, either a a number of citizens, either a minority or a majority, that are minority or a majority, that are united by a common impulse or united by a common impulse or passion adverse to the rights of passion adverse to the rights of other citizens or the best interests other citizens or the best interests of the community. From the of the community. From the perspective of the common good, perspective of the common good, which was Madison’s goal, factions which was Madison’s goal, factions are a problem.are a problem.

Answer (cont.)Answer (cont.)

Nonetheless, multiple factions play Nonetheless, multiple factions play a positive role by counterbalancing a positive role by counterbalancing one another. Madison’s solution to one another. Madison’s solution to the problem of faction is a large the problem of faction is a large republic with a multiplicity of republic with a multiplicity of factions that keep one another from factions that keep one another from becoming too powerful. Factions, becoming too powerful. Factions, then, are also the solution.then, are also the solution.

Discussion Discussion questionquestion

Does Madison have an idealistic Does Madison have an idealistic or realistic view of human or realistic view of human nature? What’s the basis for nature? What’s the basis for your answer?your answer?

Discussion Discussion questionquestion

What are the causes of faction in What are the causes of faction in today’s society? Is the “various today’s society? Is the “various and unequal distribution of and unequal distribution of property” still a major source of property” still a major source of division?division?

Discussion Discussion questionquestion

How do each of the following How do each of the following constitutional provisions reflect the constitutional provisions reflect the founders’ bias against pure founders’ bias against pure democracy?democracy?

The electoral collegeThe electoral college The original process for choosing U.S. senatorsThe original process for choosing U.S. senators The procedure for amending the ConstitutionThe procedure for amending the Constitution The presidential vetoThe presidential veto