Heimler's AP Gov 1.3

AP Gov – Debate: Federalist 10 vs. Brutus 1

Majority Rule vs. Minority Rights (not ethnic minorities → economic/regional majorities vs. minorities).
Key Questions:
- How to prevent small landowners (majority) from overtaxing wealthy elites (minority)?
- How to balance agricultural vs. industrial interests?

Leaders: Hamilton, Madison, Jay.
Position: Support ratification of the Constitution → stronger central government.
Key Document: Federalist 10 (Madison)
- Problem: Factions (groups pursuing their own interests at expense of others).
- Solution:
  - Create a republican government with representation.
  - Large republic = many factions → forces debate, compromise, prevents domination by one group.
  - Protects both majority rule and minority rights.

Leaders: Patrick Henry, George Mason.
Position: Oppose ratification → keep state-centered system (like under Articles of Confederation).
Key Document: Brutus 1
- Argued republic cannot govern a territory as large as the U.S.
- Constitution’s Necessary & Proper Clause + Supremacy Clause = central gov. will overpower states.
- States will become irrelevant → liberty destroyed.
Other Anti-Federalist Writings: Federal Farmer (also feared consolidation into one national government).

Federalists won → Constitution ratified (1788).
Debate set stage for ongoing tension in U.S. politics:
- Federal power vs. state power.
- Balancing liberty with effective governance.

Federalist 10: Large republic = protection against factions; compromise ensures stability.
Brutus 1: Large republic = loss of state authority; too big to represent citizens effectively.
Central theme: How much power should the federal government hold?