The Federalist Papers, No. 10 by James Madison: The Federalist Papers, No. 10 by James Madison, List 2

Following the Constitutional Convention in 1787, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay published a series of essays supporting the new Constitution. Together these essays are called The Federalist Papers. Federalist No. 10 by Madison is considered one of the most important political documents in U.S. history. Madison discusses political factions, which in today's language might be called political parties. The essay was first published in newspapers under the pen name "Publius." Read the full text here.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. aggregate
    formed of separate units gathered into a mass or whole
    By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.
  2. expedient
    a means to an end
    The second expedient is as impracticable as the first would be unwise.
  3. fallible
    likely to fail or make errors
    As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed.
  4. insuperable
    incapable of being surpassed or excelled
    The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests.
  5. sentiment
    a personal belief or judgment
    From the protection of different and unequal faculties of acquiring property, the possession of different degrees and kinds of property immediately results; and from the influence of these on the sentiments and views of the respective proprietors, ensues a division of the society into different interests and parties.
  6. latent
    potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
    The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man; and we see them everywhere brought into different degrees of activity, according to the different circumstances of civil society.
  7. sow
    introduce into an environment
    The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man; and we see them everywhere brought into different degrees of activity, according to the different circumstances of civil society.
  8. zeal
    a feeling of strong eagerness
    A zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for pre-eminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate...
  9. animosity
    a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility
    A zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for pre-eminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate...
  10. render
    make over as a return
    A zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for pre-eminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate...
  11. vex
    disturb, especially by minor irritations
    A zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for pre-eminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate...
  12. frivolous
    not serious in content, attitude, or behavior
    So strong is this propensity of mankind to fall into mutual animosities, that where no substantial occasion presents itself, the most frivolous and fanciful distinctions have been sufficient to kindle their unfriendly passions and excite their most violent conflicts.
  13. fanciful
    not based on fact; unreal
    So strong is this propensity of mankind to fall into mutual animosities, that where no substantial occasion presents itself, the most frivolous and fanciful distinctions have been sufficient to kindle their unfriendly passions and excite their most violent conflicts.
  14. mercantile
    profit oriented
    A landed interest, a manufacturing interest, a mercantile interest, a moneyed interest, with many lesser interests, grow up of necessity in civilized nations, and divide them into different classes, actuated by different sentiments and views.
  15. integrity
    moral soundness
    No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity.
Created on Fri May 30 13:14:14 EDT 2025

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