Overview
This lecture explains Federalist No. 10 by James Madison, focusing on how the Constitution protects liberty by controlling the negative effects of factions.
Federalist Papers Background
- The Federalist Papers are essays by Jay, Hamilton, and Madison arguing for ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
- These essays addressed objections to the new government and explained how it would function.
Main Problem in Federalist No. 10
- Madison addresses how the Constitution protects against tyranny by the majority.
- The framers feared pure democracy because the majority could suppress minority rights.
Factions: Definition and Danger
- Madison defines a faction as a group of citizens united by interests opposed to others' rights or the community's interests.
- Factions are dangerous because they may seek to impose their will on society.
Solutions to the Problem of Factions
- According to Madison, there are two ways to control factions: remove their causes or control their effects.
- Removing causes of factions would destroy liberty or require impossible uniformity of opinion, which is not feasible.
- Instead, controlling effects is preferred, using a republic rather than a pure democracy.
Republican Government as the Solution
- A republic uses elected representatives, which helps control faction effects.
- Larger and more diverse populations in a republic create many factions, diluting any single group’s power.
- Competing factions are forced to compromise, promoting the common good.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Federalist Papers — Essays advocating for the U.S. Constitution’s ratification.
- Faction — A group of citizens united by interests adverse to others or the community.
- Pure Democracy — Direct rule by the majority, without protection for minority rights.
- Republic — Government in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review Federalist No. 10 for details on factions and Madison’s arguments.
- Prepare to compare with Brutus No. 1 in upcoming lessons.