#Mutual animosity full#

Madison presumed that factious or divisive leaders “may kindle a flame within their particular States, but will be unable to spread a general conflagration through the other States.” The Constitution included mechanisms to slow things down, let passions cool, and encourage reflection and deliberation. He thought that the vastness of the United States might offer some protection from the ravages of factionalism, because it would be hard for anyone to spread outrage over such a large distance. 10,” James Madison wrote about his fear of the power of “faction,” by which he meant strong partisanship or group interest that “inflamed with mutual animosity” and made them forget about the common good. But they were excellent psychologists, and they strove to create institutions and procedures that would work with human nature to resist the forces that had torn apart so many other attempts at self-governance.įor example, in “ Federalist No.

The Founding Fathers knew that most previous democracies had been unstable and short-lived. Constitution was an exercise in intelligent design.

Let’s rerun this thought experiment in the social and political world, rather than the physical one.

#Mutual animosity full#

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