CONTENT WARNING
Materials in the Library of Virginia’s collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; and gender and sexual orientation.
Context
Delegates to the Constitutional Convention approved a new constitution for the United States on September 17, 1787. But before it could be adopted, nine states had to ratify the document. It had the support of some of America's brightest statesman such as James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, but others feared that it would lead to a central government with too much power. Virginia and New York were home to many detractors. If one or both of these large, wealthy states did not ratify the constitution, the United States could conceivably fail. In Virginia, even the friends of the constitution estimated its support at no more than 50 percent of the voting population (white men who owned property), while in New York the opposition seemed even stronger.
Supporters of the Constitution in New York organized a campaign to sell the new plan of government by writing a series of newspaper essays to address the questions and doubts raised by opponents of ratification. Alexander Hamilton, a New York lawyer who had been a delegate to the Philadelphia convention, enlisted the help of fellow lawyer John Jay. James Madison was in New York on official business at the time, and he agreed to assist Hamilton. Madison wrote about about forty percent of the essays.
What is known today as the Federalist Papers is a series of eighty-five essays penned by Hamilton, Jay, and Madison between October 1787 and May 1788. They were published anonymously under the pseudonym “Publius” (a statesman who helped establish the Roman republic). Originally and primarily published in two New York state newspapers, the New York Packet and Independent Journal, the essays were reprinted by many other papers at the time.
In arguing for the adoption of the Constitution, the essays explained particular provisions of the Constitution in detail. In Federalist No. 10, Madison argued that only a republican form of government could protect against factions whose short-term interests could be detrimental to state and national government. While factions would inevitably emerge, no one faction could dominate another. Instead, he believed that factions elected by different people would have to negotiate and work together to make government function. Essentially, the dangerous nature of factions could be balanced out by the sheer number of different interests represented in government. These pages from Federalist No. 10 are taken from a 1788 published compilation of The Federalist held at the Library of Virginia.
In a convention that met in June 1788, Virginia delegates ratified the Constitution by a vote of 89 to 79. Virginia was the tenth state to ratify and was followed by New York one month later. The Federalist Papers are often used today to interpret the intentions of those drafting the Constitution.
Citation: Excerpt, No. 10 (p. 57-58) from The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, as Agreed Upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787 (1788).
Supporters of the Constitution in New York organized a campaign to sell the new plan of government by writing a series of newspaper essays to address the questions and doubts raised by opponents of ratification. Alexander Hamilton, a New York lawyer who had been a delegate to the Philadelphia convention, enlisted the help of fellow lawyer John Jay. James Madison was in New York on official business at the time, and he agreed to assist Hamilton. Madison wrote about about forty percent of the essays.
What is known today as the Federalist Papers is a series of eighty-five essays penned by Hamilton, Jay, and Madison between October 1787 and May 1788. They were published anonymously under the pseudonym “Publius” (a statesman who helped establish the Roman republic). Originally and primarily published in two New York state newspapers, the New York Packet and Independent Journal, the essays were reprinted by many other papers at the time.
In arguing for the adoption of the Constitution, the essays explained particular provisions of the Constitution in detail. In Federalist No. 10, Madison argued that only a republican form of government could protect against factions whose short-term interests could be detrimental to state and national government. While factions would inevitably emerge, no one faction could dominate another. Instead, he believed that factions elected by different people would have to negotiate and work together to make government function. Essentially, the dangerous nature of factions could be balanced out by the sheer number of different interests represented in government. These pages from Federalist No. 10 are taken from a 1788 published compilation of The Federalist held at the Library of Virginia.
In a convention that met in June 1788, Virginia delegates ratified the Constitution by a vote of 89 to 79. Virginia was the tenth state to ratify and was followed by New York one month later. The Federalist Papers are often used today to interpret the intentions of those drafting the Constitution.
Citation: Excerpt, No. 10 (p. 57-58) from The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, as Agreed Upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787 (1788).
Standards
USI.7, CE.3, VUS.6, GOVT.1, GOVT.3
Suggested Questions
Preview Activity
Scan It: Scan the document. What do you think Madison means when he uses the word faction? What other words could you use to identify a faction? What kind of factions can you think of?
Post Activities
Food for Thought: This document outlines Madison's plan to structure a popularly elected government that can both protect private rights and provide public order and security. Is this realistic? Does Madison have too high of expectations for the government? Has the government lived up to Madison's expectations?
Form an Opinion: Imagine you were reading this when it was published in 1787, just a few years after the end of the Revolution. Would you agree with Madison’s warnings about factions? Why or why not? What kinds of factions would you be thinking about if you were a citizen in the late eighteenth century? What factions might you fear based on your position and status in society, and why?
Scan It: Scan the document. What do you think Madison means when he uses the word faction? What other words could you use to identify a faction? What kind of factions can you think of?
Post Activities
Food for Thought: This document outlines Madison's plan to structure a popularly elected government that can both protect private rights and provide public order and security. Is this realistic? Does Madison have too high of expectations for the government? Has the government lived up to Madison's expectations?
Form an Opinion: Imagine you were reading this when it was published in 1787, just a few years after the end of the Revolution. Would you agree with Madison’s warnings about factions? Why or why not? What kinds of factions would you be thinking about if you were a citizen in the late eighteenth century? What factions might you fear based on your position and status in society, and why?