SOAP - Federalist Paper #51Federalist Paper #51
James Madison wrote 29 essays in The Federalist papers to argue in favor of ratifying the Constitution. In The Federalist “Number 51,” Madison explains how the government set up by the Constitution will protect the rights of the people by weakening the power of any interest, or group, to dominate the government. A CLOSER LOOK
It is of great importance in a republic not only to guard the society against the oppression of its rulers, but to guard one part of the society against the injustice of the other part. Different interests necessarily exist in different classes of citizens. If a majority be united by a common interest, the rights of the minority will be insecure. There are but two methods of providing against this evil: the one by creating a will in the community independent of the majority— that is, of the society itself; the other, by comprehending 1 in the society so many separate descriptions of citizens as will render an unjust combination of a majority of the whole very improbable, if not impracticable.2. . .
Whilst 3 all authority in it will be derived from and dependent on the society, the society itself will be broken into so many parts, interests and classes of citizens, that the rights of individuals, or of the minority, will be in little danger from interested combinations of the majority. In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights. It consists in the one case in the multiplicity of interests, and in the other in the multiplicity of sects.4. . .
In the extended republic of the United States, and among the great variety of interests, parties, and sects which it embraces, a coalition 5 of a majority of the whole society could seldom take place on any other principles than those of justice and the general good. . . . It is no less certain than it is important . . . that the larger the society, provided it lie within a practicable sphere, the more duly capable it will be of self-government. And happily for the republican cause, the practicable sphere may be carried to a very great extent by a judicious modification 6 and mixture of the federal principle.
United States. Gary Rutledge. “The Federalist Number 51.” 8 Feb. 1788; http://www.garyrutledge.com/Documents/federalists_papers/fed_51.htm>
1. comprehending: understanding.
2. impracticable: not practical or realistic.
3. whilst: while.
4. multiplicity of sects: large number of groups.
5. coalition: alliance of groups.
6. judicious modification: careful change.
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Main Ideas
Madison believes that what two parts of society must be protected?
What two methods does he suggest a society can use to protect minority rights?
What two rights does he believe should be protected by the “free government?”
On what two occasions does Madison suggest that large enough “coalitions” could gather to protect the interests of the United States?
Critical Thinking
Why does Madison believe that a large republic is likely to protect justice?
Why did Madison believe that the government created under the Constitution would not be dominated by an oppressive majority?
Provide reasons why Madison is a supporter or opponent of the Constitution.