Making Sense of The Federalist Papers
Directions: The Federalist Papers were written by James Madison,
Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay to highlight the beneficial elements
of the new Constitution and win support for ratification. Three of the
most famous Federalist Papers were # 10, 51 and 78. Read the
excerpts below and try to analyze and summarize the key points you
think the authors were making.
I
Federalist #10
Period: 3rd
EEDERALIEY
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"AMONG the numerous advantages promised by a well-constructed Union,
none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break
and control the violence of faction... By a faction, I understand a number of
citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who
are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest,
adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate
interests of the community."
1. What advantage does Madison state the new government system will bring?