Federalist 10 Argument Analysis

Published on November of 1987, Federalist 10 is considered one of the most treasured constitutional documents in American History. James Madison starts this paper off stating that in collaborative governments, faction is a menacing virtue. “AMONG the numerous advantages promised by a well constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction. The friend of popular governments never finds himself so much alarmed for their character and fate, as when he contemplates their propensity to this dangerous vice”(Madison, Paragraph 1). The vital advantage is attaining the ability to either vanquish it or control it. Factions were groups of citizens with interests that were irreconcilable
Madison states, "The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man," (Madison, Paragraph 5) so the solution is to control their effects. He makes an argument on how this is not feasible in a moral democracy but practical in a republic. Effects of a faction vary depending on whether the faction is a majority or minority faction. Madison argues that the only strenuous effects to control will come from majority factions. He states that the concept of popular sovereignty should keep minority factions from acquiring an influence. “But the most common and durable source of factions has been the various and unequal distribution of property. Those who hold and those who are without property have ever formed distinct interests in society” (Madison, Paragraph 5). However he argues that undesirable passions can spread from a small size to a majority faction fairly quickly. “. The regulation of these various and interfering interests forms the principal task of modern legislation, and involves the spirit of party and faction in the necessary and ordinary operations of the government” (Madison, Paragraph
“…the smaller the number of individuals composing a majority, and the smaller the compass within which they are placed, the more easily will they concert and execute their plans of oppression. Extend the sphere, and you take in a greater variety of parties and interests; you make it less probable that a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens” (Madison, Paragraph 14). Even though Madison argued for a large and diverse republic, the Federalist Papers recognized the need for a balance to preserve fairness and justice. They wanted a republic diverse enough to prevent faction but with enough commonality to preserve unity among the states. “In the extent and proper structure of the Union, therefore, we behold a republican remedy for the diseases most incident to republican government. And according to the degree of pleasure and pride we feel in being republicans, ought to be our zeal in cherishing the spirit and supporting the character of Federalists” (Madison, Paragraph