The Federalist Papers, No. 10 by James Madison: The Federalist Papers, No. 10 by James Madison, List 4

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. convene
    call together
    Under such a regulation, it may well happen that the public voice, pronounced by the representatives of the people, will be more consonant to the public good than if pronounced by the people themselves, convened for the purpose.
  2. invert
    reverse the position, order, relation, or condition of
    On the other hand, the effect may be inverted.
  3. intrigue
    a crafty and involved plot to achieve your ends
    Men of factious tempers, of local prejudices, or of sinister designs, may, by intrigue, by corruption, or by other means, first obtain the suffrages, and then betray the interests, of the people.
  4. suffrage
    a legal right to vote
    Men of factious tempers, of local prejudices, or of sinister designs, may, by intrigue, by corruption, or by other means, first obtain the suffrages, and then betray the interests, of the people.
  5. cabal
    a clique that seeks power usually through intrigue
    In the first place, it is to be remarked that, however small the republic may be, the representatives must be raised to a certain number, in order to guard against the cabals of a few; and that, however large it may be, they must be limited to a certain number, in order to guard against the confusion of a multitude.
  6. unduly
    to an unnecessary degree
    By enlarging too much the number of electors, you render the representatives too little acquainted with all their local circumstances and lesser interests; as by reducing it too much, you render him unduly attached to these, and too little fit to comprehend and pursue great and national objects.
  7. federal
    of or relating to the central government of a state
    The federal Constitution forms a happy combination in this respect; the great and aggregate interests being referred to the national, the local and particular to the State legislatures.
  8. impediment
    something immaterial that interferes with action or progress
    Besides other impediments, it may be remarked that, where there is a consciousness of unjust or dishonorable purposes, communication is always checked by distrust in proportion to the number whose concurrence is necessary.
  9. endowment
    natural abilities or qualities
    It will not be denied that the representation of the Union will be most likely to possess these requisite endowments.
  10. palpable
    capable of being perceived
    Here, again, the extent of the Union gives it the most palpable advantage.
  11. conflagration
    a very intense and uncontrolled fire
    The influence of factious leaders may kindle a flame within their particular States, but will be unable to spread a general conflagration through the other States.
  12. sect
    a subdivision of a larger religious group
    A religious sect may degenerate into a political faction in a part of the Confederacy; but the variety of sects dispersed over the entire face of it must secure the national councils against any danger from that source.
  13. degenerate
    grow worse
    A religious sect may degenerate into a political faction in a part of the Confederacy; but the variety of sects dispersed over the entire face of it must secure the national councils against any danger from that source.
  14. pervade
    spread or diffuse through
    A rage for paper money, for an abolition of debts, for an equal division of property, or for any other improper or wicked project, will be less apt to pervade the whole body of the Union than a particular member of it; in the same proportion as such a malady is more likely to taint a particular county or district, than an entire State.
  15. malady
    impairment of normal physiological function
    A rage for paper money, for an abolition of debts, for an equal division of property, or for any other improper or wicked project, will be less apt to pervade the whole body of the Union than a particular member of it; in the same proportion as such a malady is more likely to taint a particular county or district, than an entire State.
Created on Fri May 30 13:15:46 EDT 2025 (updated Fri May 30 13:16:22 EDT 2025)

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