The ‘Libertas’ Essay:
An AntiFederalist Response To
James Madison’s Federalist #10
Advanced Placement
TIPS ConLaw Project
www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips.html
Mr. Faubel
Introduction
Between October, 1787 and
May, 1788, three prominent American statesmen, James Madison, Alexander
Hamilton
and John Jay wrote a series
of essays which are known in constitutional history as The Federalist Papers.
Designed to shape public opinion in favor of ratification [formal approval] of
the new United States Constitution, they were first published in
Yet many citizens of the new
Internet Resources
www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips.html
www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/federal/fed.htm
www.constitution.org/afp/afp.htm
www.codyexpress.com/Hist%20Docs/antifed_papers.htm
www.law.ou.edu/hist/federalist/
Student Task
You are important American spokesmen
for the Antifederalist position, who has been asked to write a response to the Federalist
Paper #10. In this famous essay
by the “Father of the Constitution”, James Madison, the Federalists argue that
a large republic is better suited to govern a people than a group of small
republics or states.
This is because the existence
of so many “interests” and “fractions” [groups
with opposing political goals and ideals] within the nation will force all
sides to govern by political compromise.
Instructions
Your task is divided into Two Parts:
First: You
will analyze the excerpts from Federalist
Paper #10 shown below and summarize the arguments and opinion
Second: Assignment
requires you to write a response to the Federalist point of view by attacking
his ideas and convincing the reader that the States and the People should
reject to new Constitution. Your pen name is Libertas, the Latin word for “liberty”, and your essay will be
addressed to The People of the
Primary Source Document Analysis
Federalist Paper #10
James Madison,
To the People of the State of
The people of any society have a variety of interests.
Some people own property; some do not. Some owe money; some have money owed to
them. Some people are landowners, some manufacturers, some merchants, some
bankers-and there are many lesser interests.
Because they have different interests, people always form factions. Given this fact, a large republic has an advantage over a
small one. The larger the republic, the more interests or parties it will have.
The less chance there will be that the government will be captured by an unjust
majority. For that reason, one large union of states is to be preferred to a
number of independent states. The influence of separate factions may kindle a
flame [revolt] within their particular states, but will be unable to set the other
states on fire. A rage for paper money, for canceling of debts, for an equal
division of property, or for any other improper or wicked project, will be less
apt to spread through the whole body of the
Publius
________________________________________________
Why did James Madison believe that the existence of
“factions” and “interests” would actually help the government to function
democratically?
Answer:
How would compromise prevent the “unjust majority”
from taking over the government?
Answer:
________________________________________________
According to
Answer:
________________________________________________
Why did
Answer:
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The ‘Libertas’ Essay Project
You will write a persuasive essay of at least two double-spaced pages, which argues
against James Madison’s Federalist ideas about republican government. You
should attempt to convince the People that ratification of the new Federal Constitution would not be
in the best interest of the nation. Indeed, it would in rob us of our liberty
and “natural rights” which we fought for in the American Revolution.
Some Antifederalist points
you may wish to include in your essay:
·
The fact that the
“majority” of people may not always
right,
means that laws made by the National Legislature might only benefit the rich
and powerful.
·
A large federal
republic with a centralized government, which extends across an entire
continent, has never existed at any time in human history. The only republican
forms of government that have worked consisted of small, democratic City-States,
such as those found in ancient
·
When compromise within
the new federal government becomes impossible, what is to prevent the competing
interest groups and political factions from starting a civil war. Explain what
could happen to the
·
Since all
“factions” and “interests” in a democracy do not have equal power and
influence, what is to stop the rich and politically powerful from seizing
control of the government?
·
The Constitution of 1787 contains no Bill of Rights, which would be needed to
protect individual citizens from an all powerful national government.
Evaluation & Standards
Students must complete Parts 1 + 2 of the assignment. All work is to be produced on this MS Word program, with a hard paper copy
printed for submission. The entire project will be grade on a scale of 1-5.
This interdisciplinary project
is created according to the critical thinking/technology requirements of the
TIPS Program, College Board’s Advanced
Placement United States History and the following New York State Learning
Standards:
·
Social Studies:
Civics, Citizenship and Government, Key Ideas 1-4; History of the
·
English Language
Arts: Standards 1+3
_____________Begin Your Essay
Here____________
Libertas
The
To the People of the