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Difficulty: MediumFederalist No. 10 vs. Brutus No. 1

In the debates surrounding the ratification of the United States Constitution, the authors of Federalist No. 10 and Brutus No. 1 expressed conflicting views on the optimal size and scope of a republican government. Which of the following statements best contrasts their arguments regarding the threat of centralized power?

  1. Federalist No. 10 argues that a large territory prevents any single faction from dominating the national government, while Brutus No. 1 argues that the Constitution's expansive grants of power, such as the authority to tax, will lead to the subversion of state sovereignty.Answer
  2. B
    Federalist No. 10 asserts that state governments must retain the sole power to collect taxes to prevent federal overreach, while Brutus No. 1 argues that the national government requires a strong executive to enforce federal tax laws across a vast territory.
  3. C
    Federalist No. 10 advocates for a pure participatory democracy where all citizens directly vote on laws to bypass corrupt representatives, while Brutus No. 1 supports an elite democracy where a select group of wealthy citizens governs the large republic.
  4. D
    Federalist No. 10 argues that the Tenth Amendment sufficiently protects state authority from federal encroachment, while Brutus No. 1 argues that the Supremacy Clause will allow the national judiciary to overrule state laws.

Answer

Federalist No. 10 argues that a large territory prevents any single faction from dominating the national government, while Brutus No. 1 argues that the Constitution's expansive grants of power, such as the authority to tax, will lead to the subversion of state sovereignty.
The correct answer accurately contrasts the primary mechanisms discussed in both foundational documents. Federalist No. 10 focuses on the political dynamics of a large republic, explaining that a large territory and a high number of citizens make it difficult for a majority faction to coordinate and oppress minority interests. Brutus No. 1, on the other hand, focuses on structural constitutional powers, specifically warning that the power to tax and the Supremacy Clause will grant the federal government absolute control, rendering state governments powerless and obsolete.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the core argument of Federalist No. 10 regarding factions and the size of the republic.
Federalist No. 10 argues that a large republic is superior to a small one for controlling factions. By extending the sphere of the republic, a greater variety of parties and interests are included, which makes it less likely that a majority will have a common motive to infringe on the rights of other citizens.
Understanding Madison's main thesis is necessary to compare it to the Anti-Federalist view.
2
Analyze the core argument of Brutus No. 1 regarding the scope of federal power and state sovereignty.
Brutus No. 1 argues that a large, consolidated government will lead to tyranny. It warns that the power to lay and collect taxes, along with the Necessary and Proper Clause and Supremacy Clause, will allow the federal government to slowly absorb all the powers of the states, leading to their eventual subversion.
Identifying the primary concern of Brutus is necessary to formulate the contrast.
3
Compare the analyzed arguments to the provided options to identify the correct contrast.
The option stating that Federalist No. 10 focuses on faction control via a large territory, while Brutus No. 1 focuses on the subversion of state sovereignty through federal powers like taxation, is the only option that accurately represents both documents without misattribution or historical errors.
Evaluating all options ensures that the selected answer is correct and that common misconceptions are discarded.

Key Concept

Federalist No. 10 vs. Brutus No. 1
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Federalist No. 10 vs. Brutus No. 1

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