1

FEDERALIST PAPER 10

Federalist 10

Student’s Name,
Tutor’s Name
Course
Date
 2
FEDERALIST PAPER 10

Federalist 10
The author introduces us to the violence of faction, a mortal disease affecting popular
governments. The article reveals that the effects of this disease make the government perish.
They include instability, injustice, and confusion brought into the public assemblies. He points
out that decisions are not made according to justice and the rights of the minorities in these
popular governments but under the influence of the majority. Therefore if these governments are
to remain in existence, they should look for the cure of the diseases. The article thus presents two
methods of cure, the first one is the removal of the causes, and the other is controlling their
effects (Madison, 1961).
Removal of faction can be done in two ways; one is by the destruction of liberty, and the
other is giving every citizen similar interests, opinions, and passions. On analyzing these
methods, the author finds out that the first method is unwise and worse than the problem since it
involves eliminating a crucial virtue that is essential for any political life.
Considering the second method, which involves the allocation of similar opinions,
passions, and interests, the author states that it cannot be achieved because passions, interests,
and opinions cannot be made similar due to the diversity of men and the existing divisions in the
society (Madison, 1961). After analyzing this first method, the author concludes that it is
difficult to eliminate the cause of faction, and the only viable method is the control of its effects.
Therefore, the article recommends that there is a need for the formation of a majority faction that
protects the public good and private rights against the majority rule. At the same time, it
preserves the spirit of popular government.
Upon finding the solution for the faction, the article states that the implementation of this
solution requires a republic form of government (Madison, 1961). This is because it allows for
the scheming of representation of the people and promises to deliver a lasting cure for the
faction. Lastly, with a republic, the influence of factious leaders is restricted to their states and
will not spread to the other states.
 3
FEDERALIST PAPER 10

Reference
Madison, J. (1961). Federalist Paper Number 10. The Federalist Papers, 78-80.