Federalist Papers, The by James Madison (1751 - 1836),  Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757 - 1804) et al. cover image

Federalist Papers, The by James Madison (1751 - 1836), Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757 - 1804) et al.

Federalist No. 10 by James Madison

Jan 1, 1970
James Madison, the Fourth President of the United States and a principal architect of the Constitution, delves into the complexities of faction in governance. He explores how different interests can lead to conflict and the importance of a strong union to manage these challenges. Madison critiques pure democracies, arguing for the benefits of a republic in representing diverse viewpoints. He also emphasizes that a large republic can mitigate factionalism, preventing majoritarian oppression while ensuring individual rights and promoting the common good.
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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Factions threaten popular governments by disrupting public order and undermining justice due to differing interests and unequal property distribution.
  • A well-structured republic mitigates factional dangers by diluting influence and filtering the will of the people through elected representatives.

Deep dives

The Dangers of Faction

Factions pose a significant threat to the stability of popular governments, as they can disrupt public order and undermine justice. By definition, a faction is a group of citizens united by a common interest that can be contrary to the rights of others or the collective interests of society. The unequal distribution of property has been identified as a primary source of factionalism, creating distinct interests among different socioeconomic classes. Madison highlights that both the presence of factions and the conflicts they breed are historical afflictions of democratic systems, which must be effectively addressed to maintain the integrity of governance.

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