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Maria Bernier

HIST 151

July 23, 2017

Federalist Paper No. 10

On November 29, 1787, James Maddison published an essay which is commonly referred

to as the Federalist Paper No. 10. This time in history was commonly known as the Age of

Enlightenment because there were many revolutions in society and politics. According to

Bristow, Enlightenment thought culminates historically in the political upheaval of the

French Revolution, in which the traditional hierarchical political and social orders (the

French monarchy, the privileges of the French nobility, the political power and authority of

the Catholic Church) were violently destroyed and replaced by a political and social order

informed by the Enlightenment ideals of freedom and equality for all, founded, ostensibly,

upon principles of human reason. The Federalists Papers, which included the Federalist

Paper No. 10, influenced thoughts of enlightenment which led to the Revolutionary war.

As aforementioned, James Maddison wrote and published Federalist Paper No. 10.

James Maddison was a great influential leader leading up and during the American Revolution.

Maddison is often referred to as The Father of the Constitution because of his pivotal role in the

documents drafting as well as its ratification (Library of Congress). The Federalists papers that

Maddison and others wrote before the Constitution was drafted influenced others and himself to

write one of the most important documents in Americas history.

The Federalists Papers were written in the years of 1787 and 1788 by James Maddison,

Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. In total, the Federalist Papers are comprised of 85 essays
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that were published primarily in two New York state newspapers: The New York Packet and

The Independent Journal (About the Federalist Papers). The authors of these papers wrote them in

order to persuade citizens to ratify the proposed United States Constitution, which was drafted

in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 (About the Federalist Papers). This is evidence that these

papers that were written and published had a large influence on the ratifying of the Constitution.

One of the most influential federalist paper that was written was by James Maddison, Federalist

Paper No. 10.

The Federalists Paper No. 10 was the tenth essay to be written out of the 85 total essays.

There are many reasons as to why this specific essay was extremely influential at the time to

ratifying the proposed Constitution. This essay was filled with ideas of enlightenment that

persuaded colonists to help them change their current thoughts and perspectives on government.

Maddison talked about reducing factions, which can be defined as a group of people who want to

fight against the rights of citizens. He explains in this essay that it is possible to have a

government where everyone could have their rights protected rather than taken away from them.
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Works Cited

"Who's The Father of The Constitution?" The LOC.GOV Wise Guide : Who's the Father of the
Constitution? N.p., n.d. Web. 23 July 2017.

"About the Federalist Papers." Congress.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 July 2017.

Bristow, William. "Enlightenment." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Stanford University, 20 Aug. 2010.
Web. 23 July 2017.