ipl-logo

Analyzing James Madison's Essay 'The Federalist'

505 Words3 Pages

Federalist Precis A group of like-minded men who are considered to be the “Founding Fathers” of America, made up of Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, wrote and published a group essay so to speak, under the pseudonym “Publius” (which refers to one of four roman aristocrats who overthrew a monarchy) full of their collected individual essays and entitled the collected group works “The Federalist” (1787). The 14th essay, a work of Madison, is deemed to be of particular importance in which Madison argues against critics that claim America is too large to be governed as a republic, and explains the concept of central government in the interest for the people, by the people. Madison furthers his argument by explaining the benefits of unity, and that a republic in the mold of America has never been seen before and requires the utmost unity for it to be successful. Madison effectively argues by addressing the counterargument in the opening paragraphs, which allows the audience to consider all the points of views and thus see the logic in Madison’s argument as he explains by saying: …show more content…

A democracy, consequently, will be confined to a small spot. A republic may be extended over a large region” (Madison 1) He also explains his second point by appealing to Americans’ hearts as well as their heads. By demonstrating that there has never been a republic like America has never been seen before, he stirs up a spirit of patriotism and deep will for freedom and all the citizens of this new, emerging nation by

Show More
Related
592 Words | 3 Pages

In the Federalist Paper number 51, Madison writes to the people of New York to explain that it is necessary for a separation of powers between the departments of the government. Madison, with the help of Hamilton, wrote the Federalist Papers to explain sections of the Constitution. In Federalist Paper number 51, Madison explains that the government does not have a strong structure on the outside, but creating a firm structure within the government could be a solution. The firmer structure would be the separation of powers. In order for the people to get a better idea and make a more accurate judgement about the separation of powers, Madison shares observations and puts them into simpler terms.

Read More
487 Words | 2 Pages

In “Federalist No. 69”, Alexander Hamilton wrote to inform and persuade the public to agree to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Particularly, he focused on the executive leadership’s role in the new government. He described the number of years the President can serve for before he is eligible for reelection. The President’s conduct and actions regarding legal matters are described as not being above the law. Law-making checks are imposed on the President as the two houses carry a large say.

Read More
769 Words | 4 Pages

Having a weak government was unacceptable for the Federalists, so they pushed for a strong central government. Popular figures who supported this side were: George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. According to Scofield, P. (2011), the Federalists Papers were written by the pseudonym Publius to spread the idea of ratifying the Constitution,“Nothing is more certain than the indispensable necessity of government, and it is equally undeniable, that whenever and however it is instituted, the people must cede to it some of their natural rights in order to vest it with requisite powers”. The best way to distinguish a Federalists would be their want of a strong government, and they admitted that giving up individual rights were worth keeping the country united. Publius plainly states that it was “undeniable” that the people “cede” some of their libraries for the good of the

Read More
218 Words | 1 Pages

1. In Federalist Paper 10, Madison expressed concerns about factions and his desire to protect the minority (people with land) from the majority (those without). He stated that a large republic should be created so that tiny factions interest groups will have a difficult time uniting and becoming a majority that usurps the minority. Do you think this theory has withstood the test of time? Discuss instances in which it has/has not.

Read More
425 Words | 2 Pages

Being fairly easy to read and comprehend, the Federalist Papers laid out a simple description of the framework of the new government. Federalist Papers 10 and 14 are very significant when it comes to the portrayal of federalist focus and desires. Paper 51 elaborates on how the new government will keep the common man’s ideals and rights when it comes to representation and officials. When it’s all said and done, the Federalist Papers thoroughly explain the new government to the average Joe.

Read More
152 Words | 1 Pages

The Federalist Papers The Federalist papers consists of 85 essays written in the late 1780s by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. The three authors published it in New York newspapers under the name “Publius” to persuade its citizens to ratify the new U.S constitution. These essays argued in support for the ratification of the new U.S constitution by __________________________________. There are 3 well known federalist papers which are no. 10, no. 45 and no. 51.

Read More
825 Words | 4 Pages

Primary source reading 7.4 is an excerpt from “Federalist NO. 51” which was written in 1788 by James Madison. This excerpt is actually an essay written by Madison and published in the New York Packet that explains how the federal government will not become too powerful as the people think, and trying to convince people to get the constitution ratified. Primary source reading 7.5 is an excerpt from “Observations on the New Constitution and the Federal and State Conventions by a Columbian Patriot” written by Mercy Otis Warren in 1788. This excerpt is actually a pamphlet that was published as well. In this pamphlet, Warren criticizes the Constitution for thinking the federal government will get too much power and tries to get the people to reject

Read More
343 Words | 2 Pages

James Madison’s Federalist 10 was written amid criticisms that a republican form of government had never been successful on a large scale. Madison’s argument was that a well-constructed union could control factions. He argued that in order to control factions from their causes, we would need to either give up liberty or free thought. Since we cannot infringe upon these two natural rights, we must move on to controlling the effects. A republic, Madison argues, would be able to do this because the people choose the representatives, and they choose representatives who they feel best represent their opinions.

Read More
919 Words | 4 Pages

embraces more than the fate of these United States. It presents to the whole family of man the question of whether a constitutional republic or democracy -- a government of the people, by the same people -- can or cannot maintain its territorial integrity against its own domestic foes. It presents the question whether the discontented individuals-- too few in numbers to control the administration, according to organic law, in anycase -- can always, upon the pretenses made in this case or on any other pretenses, or arbitrarily without any pretense, break up the government and thus practically put an end to free government upon the earth. It forces us to ask: “Is there, in all republics, this inherent and fatal weakness? Make a government, of necessity, be too strong for the liberties of its own people, or too weak to maintain its own

Read More
740 Words | 3 Pages

The federalist papers section one speaks on arguments for the constitution, which spoken on by Alexander Hamilton. He speaks about how the government is too large to a national government. In section two of the papers John Jay talks about how it is good the country stayed united. Also about

Read More
978 Words | 4 Pages

The Federalist No. 10” is a persuasive argument written by James Madison in an attempt to ratify the Constitution. He wrote a series of documents called the Federalist Papers under a pseudonym to convince others to approve of the Constitution. He says that factions are not good for America, neither is a pure democracy. Madison provides extensive arguments and remedies for the problems he is addressing. James Madison is attempting to ratify the Constitution by analyzing the way to deal with factions, comparing a republic to a democracy, and by comparing a small government to a large government.

Read More
584 Words | 3 Pages

Also deTo defend the Federalist position on the constitution the Federalist wrote a document known as the Federalist papers. The central idea of the Papers was to give the central government “just enough power to benefit the country and keep it together (without a fony war), nut to oblige the representatives to stay within the bonds set by the document”. The Federalist predicted “people would eventually give away all the freedom they had fought for”. Madison argued with Patrick Henry’s firebrand objections to secure approval of the Constitution. Madisons wittiness and reasoning got him elected into the House of Representatives.

Read More
390 Words | 2 Pages

James Madison stated that war is detrimental to the existence of freedom in society. His claims in “Political Observations” exemplify his respect for the influence of public thought. If all sides of an issue are shown to the public the truth eventually will come out. Some of the reasons why he classified war as the most dreaded enemy to public liberty include war is the guardian of armies, debts, and taxes, war disrupts the balance of the Executive and Legislative branches, and countries would have difficulty maintaining freedom with constant warfare. Madison alleged that war was the keeper of armies, debts, and taxes.

Read More
578 Words | 3 Pages

James Madison’s role of the development of the Constitution would be that he represented for Virginia, and he was the one that developed the Virginia Plan. James Madison was on the Federalist’s side and wrote a plethora of Federalist papers that argued why a stronger central government would solidify the country. The Federalist papers were also known as The Federalist Papers, and it was written by both James Madison and Alexander Hamilton. His view of human nature would be from one of his Federalist Papers, specifically 51, stating that “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary…

Read More
562 Words | 3 Pages

Factions and Federalist Essay No. 10 The federalist papers were a series of 85 essays written to convince the citizens of New York to ratify the constitution. Federalist essay No.10, written by James Madison, discusses political factions and their effects. Madison’s definition of a faction is clearly stated in the essay.

Read More

More about Analyzing James Madison's Essay 'The Federalist'

Related Topics

Open Document