Federalist Paper ten is the fifth in a series of five which focuses on the possible dangers of war between the States. The first four are written by Alexander Hamilton with the tenth and final one (of this series) written by James Madison.

While Hamilton had opined in Federalist Paper six that “the weakness and wickedness of human nature” would lead to “frequent and violent contests. He then expands on this perspective in federalist Papers seven and eight. Then in the Ninth he makes the point that the size of the American Union would promote external security and internal liberty. To support this position he uses the writings of Montesquieu.

However, Madison summarizes this subject in Federalist Paper Ten and provides an analysis of the nature, causes, and effects of factions (that is, that factions are primarily the root cause of dissention) but makes the point that said factions are the product of, and the price of, liberty. His approach is to develop the best way to control these natural urges and functions. For this he proposes that the best way is a system of representation and extended territory. Here he and Hamilton agree that the proper structure of Union is that of a republic. In this manner they provide that it is the best way to “combat a tyranny of the majority?”.

It is also true that Federalist Paper Fifty One concludes a series of five Federalist Papers, that is Federalist Forty Seven through Fifty One. These are all written by James Madison and they address the