Similarities Between Federalist And Anti-Federalists

There is a quote from Aristotle that reads that if “Democracy arose from man's thinking that if they are equal in any respect then they are equal absolutely”. When dealing with making contrasts between Federalist and Anti-Federalist writers this quote often comes to mind. Primarily due to the fact that what constitutes as a good and proper representation for the society of the American people is a key element honed in on by both Federalist and Anti-Federalists. How do we justly elect representatives for the American people? What kind of systems do we need to have put in place to allow for them to be elected? Moreover, who do we turn to within the society to carry out the roles of these positions if all men are created equal? Within this essay

Our first school of thought is one held by Madison, a Federalist, who believes that of the entirety of the American population that the most virtuous people can be found within the natural aristocracy. As they would be able to look at civic issues on a more national scale compared to that of the average citizen. Madison ironically notes in Federalist Paper No. 10 the dangers of factionalism can bring to the political world despite advocating for a minority to represent the majority. He states that “As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed”. So in order to address this issue he states that you can either try to control the cause or the effect of factions. Ultimately deciding that controlling effect is the better of the two options as “Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires”. While he may be promoting the

A man that believes that real and true civic virtue cannot lie within the natural aristocracy, but within the average working citizen. Men that are farmers, blacksmiths, and dock workers. In order for a true mirror of society to be found with the house of representatives these are the kinds of men that will best understand the American people. In Federal Farmer Letter 7 he takes on Madison's idea of how he imagines the house. Noting that he does not want a small assembly on the basis that the larger the more accurate or representative the house will be. He backs his reasoning with a manner somewhat similar to Madison as he fears the concept of factions as well but in this instance the faction formed by the aristocracy, stating that “combinations founded in the connections of offices and private interests, both evils which are increased in proportion as the number of men, among which the elected must be, are decreased”. A sentiment that I believe to be a direct shot at Madison's concept that with a smaller assembly you have less to worry about in the realm of corruption from a statistical standpoint. A point made more ironic by the fact that Madison purposely wants factions to be large to keep them un-unified as a means to prevent oppression while actively trying to keep his faction of natural aristocratic house members small to get what they