The Federalist No. 10, in favor of the constution, argued that the larger the republic the better for individuals rights. Some factors to keep in mind when looking at this is that the federalists were the predessessors of the republican party, and even then represented large land owners and banks (Hamilton). The constitution as written created economic disparity and favored the wealthy. This has been a cause of most of the problems in the US, then and now- it is even cited as the main cause of the civil war.
The Cato Papers (cited below) argued against the constitution as originally written.
It is natural to a republic to have only a small territory, otherwise it cannot long subsist. In a large republic there are men of large fortunes, and consequently of less moderation; there are trusts too great to be placed in any single subject; he has interest of his own; he soon begins to think that he may be happy, great and glorious, by oppressing his fellow citizens; and that he may raise himself to grandeur on the ruins of his country. In a large republic, the public good is sacrificed to a thousand views; it is subordinate to exceptions, and depends on accidents. In a small one, the interest of the public is easier perceived, better understood, and more within the reach of every citizen; abuses are of less extent, and of course are less protected.
This is the reason the bill of rights was added,
BUT-it must be noted-
That even in the Federalist papers the idea of a partisan system was never endorsed!!!
This was a little slight of hand (chicanery) on the part of the Federalists(early Republicans) They had a political party in the works before the constitution even was in place! They were doing what they claimed a large republic would prevent from the very start.
One might also note that this is the group that wanted George Washington to take the position of King!
2006-10-23 03:29:24
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answer #1
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answered by Anarchy99 7
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