Background Information: Federalist #10, written by James Madison, is an important document that talks about the dangers of factions in a democratic society. A faction is a group of people who have similar interests and come together to promote their own interests, sometimes at the expense of the common good. Madison argued that factions are inevitable in a free society because people have different opinions and beliefs. Madison explains that there are two ways to deal with factions. The first way is to get rid of liberty, which means taking away people's freedom to express their opinions. However, this would go against the principles of democracy and individual rights. The second way is to control the effects of factions. Madison suggests that in a large and diverse country like the United States, factions can be controlled by having a system where many different factions exist. This way, no single faction can become too powerful and dominate others. According to Madison, a well-constructed government can help prevent the harmful effects of factions. He argues that a strong government with a system of checks and balances can protect the rights of individuals and promote the common good. By having a system where different factions have to work together and compromise, the government can prevent one faction from taking over and oppressing others. Madison believed that this system of government would help ensure the stability and success of the United States. Vocabulary: Have participants share the words and phrases they found unfamiliar while a volunteer lists them on the (interactive) white board. Be sure to include: ● Factions ● Democratic ● Ratification ● declamations ● Liberty ● Compromise ● Checks and Balances ● Individual Rights ● Common good ● Democracy Assign the words and phrases to groups of participants to research and define. Then have the groups share out to the entire class and discuss until all participants are comfortable with the surface meaning of the text. Analytical Read: Have participants read through the text selection again, slowly highlighting the 3 most impactful lines or sentences. Then in the margins of the selections, write notes on what makes those lines or sentences so compelling. 2