Federalist No. 10 Vocabulary

Key vocabulary terms and concepts derived from James Madison's Federalist No. 10 regarding factions and the benefits of a large republic.

Federalist Papers

A series of essays published in a New York newspaper by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison intended to convince the public to ratify the new Constitution.

Federalists

Individuals, such as John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison, who were in favor of the new Constitution during the ratification debates.

Federalist number 10

An essay written by James Madison that addresses how the new Constitution will protect the liberty of citizens against the tyranny of the majority.

Pure democracy

A form of government where the majority always wins out over the minority, providing no protection for minority views.

Faction

A number of citizens, whether a majority or minority, united and actuated by some common impulse of passion or interest adverse to the rights of other citizens or the aggregate interests of the community.

Removing its causes

A method of curing the mischiefs of faction that Madison rejects because it would either destroy liberty or require every citizen to have the same opinions.

Controlling its effects

Madison's proposed solution to the problem of factions, focusing on limiting their power rather than preventing their formation.

Liberty

A concept Madison compares to air, noting that while it nourishes faction, it is essential to political life and cannot be abolished without worse consequences.

Republic

A government in which a scheme of representation takes place, which Madison argues promises a cure for the mischiefs of faction.

Tyranny of the majority

The threat posed when a larger group of citizens uses its power to impose interests that are adverse to the rights of the minority.

Dilution of power

The process by which having a large variety of factions in a large nation prevents any single group from always getting their way.

Compromise

The outcome of many factions competing with one another, forcing them to pass legislation that considers the common good of society.