discussion post

Federalists 9 & 10

Federalist 9:

I. Response to the accusation that democracies are inherently unstable and therefore monarchy is a better form of government a. the case of the republics of Greece and Italy

i. move between tyranny and anarchy ii. at times brilliant and glorious but also filled with gloom iii. great talents and endowments overwhelmed by the vices of government.

b. the influence of size on government i. states are already too big to be democratic republics ii. Montesquieu argues that a confederate republic combines the benefits of a republic with the benefits of monarchy-namely freedom from tyranny and freedom from foreign domination.

Federalist 10:

I. The problem of faction a. factions can be majorities or minorities which sacrifice the good of the country for the interest of the faction.

II. Possible Solutions to Faction a. eliminate freedom b. give all citizens the same beliefs and interests so that they are unified c. allow freedom but control the effects of faction which are a part of

freedom

III. Examination of Solution II. a and II. b a. man’s reason is influenced by his interests and passions and therefore the

prejudice of faction is unavoidable b. the end of government is to protect the diversity of faculties and therefore

government must allow for a diversity of opinion and interests. c. wealth is the single greatest source of faction d. faction is latent in the nature of man and therefore its effects need to be controlled

IV. Controlled the Effects of Faction a. in a republic a minority faction can be stopped through the vote of the

majority b. how to stop the majority faction from threatening the public good and

private rights

i. pure democracy does not produce a unity of property, interests, and opinions, and therefore a democratic republic must fall victim to a tyranny of the majority

ii. a republic unlike a pure democracy will have delegation of government to a small number, and will expand greatly the number of citizens and the sphere of the country.