Federalist 10

Introduction

• Federalist 10 addresses the dangers of factionalism and the benefits of a well-constructed Union.
• Factionalism poses a significant threat to popular governments, leading to instability, injustice, and confusion.

Definition of Faction

• A faction is a group of citizens, either a majority or minority, united by common interests or passions contrary to the rights of others or the overall community interest.

Curing Faction

• Two main strategies:
  1. Removing its causes.
  2. Controlling its effects.

Removing Causes of Faction

• Two methods:
  1. Destroying liberty, which is essential to faction.
  2. Giving every citizen the same opinions, passions, and interests.
• Destroying liberty is compared to extinguishing air to stop a fire.
• Uniformity of opinions is impractical due to human diversity.

Controlling Effects of Faction

• If a minority faction, the republican principle allows the majority to prevent its sinister views through voting.
• If a majority faction, it poses a risk to the public good and the rights of others.
• The challenge is to preserve popular government while controlling factional impact.

Republic vs. Democracy

• A republic, through representation, provides a better solution than a direct democracy.
• Two main differences:
  1. Delegation of government to elected representatives.
  2. Larger number of citizens and territory.

Benefits of a Republic

• Representatives refine and enlarge public views, acting in the country's best interests.
• Larger republics favor electing suitable candidates due to broader choice and fewer opportunities for corrupt practices.

Large vs. Small Republics

• Small societies have fewer parties, making factional dominance easier.
• In larger societies, a greater variety of interests makes it harder for factions to dominate.

Advantages of the Union

• The Union benefits from the diversity of interests and parties, reducing the risk of one faction dominating.
• The Union's structure provides a republican remedy for factional issues, enhancing security and stability.

Conclusion

• The Union's design offers a solution to faction-related problems, supporting the spirit of republicanism and Federalism.
• Factional leaders may incite issues within states, but the Union prevents widespread disruption.