The Influence Of James Madison's Vision Of Politics

Clearly visible in his written works, James Madison’s vision of politics centers around the self-interest of the individual. Although this is especially prevalent in the 18th century, a time when the fight for independence was the main focal point of the country, it was not the only form of politics. A contrasting voice to Madison can be heard from people, such as Thomas Jefferson, who radically stressed the importance of revolution and being a moving force for the entire community. Despite the fact both of these men were influential in the founding and legacy of the United States, their political approaches did slightly differ based on their perceptions of human nature and motivations behind human interest. This can also still be seen in the 21st century, where different schools of thought, such as liberalism and conservatism, are still widely debated in the political realm. Although it is extremely common, James Madison’s individualistic outlook on politics is

How people act and what they believe in will lead to different approaches and opinions on how the government should function. This can be seen in the distinctions between how Madison and Jefferson viewed administrative policies. Madison was an institutionalist; he stressed the importance of establishing a centralized and representative government. In Federalist 10, he labeled the United States a republic over a democracy and highlights the necessity of government institutions by writing, “Extend the sphere, and you take in a greater variety of parties and interests; you make less probable that a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens”. Madison believed institutions were extremely important in providing for the population. This leads to a representative government and a well-running and stable country with satisfied