The Federalist #10

   “The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man; and we see them everywhere brought into different degrees of activity, according to the different circumstances of civil society. A zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for pre-eminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate for their common good. So strong is this propensity of mankind to fall into mutual animosities, that where no substantial occasion presents itself, the most frivolous and fanciful distinctions have been sufficient to kindle their unfriendly passions and excite their most violent conflicts. But the most common and durable source of factions has been the various and unequal distribution of property. Those who hold and those who are without property have ever formed distinct interests in society. Those who are creditors, and those who are debtors, fall under a like discrimination. A landed interest, a manufacturing interest, a mercantile interest, a moneyed interest, with many lesser interests, grow up of necessity in civilized nations, and divide them into different classes, actuated by different sentiments and views. The regulation of these various and interfering interests forms the principal task of modern legislation, and involves the spirit of party and faction in the necessary and ordinary operations of the government.”by James Madison

       They are many ways in which to describe the nature of man and ways in which they thinks, acts, and do things. In James Madison’s’ “The Federalist No. 10” he imparting to us the readers of then and now they ways in which certain situations would play out depending on his certain actions taken. In the above passage James Madison is  giving us the reader his view on why “faction” are formed. He states on “a zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for pre-eminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate for their common good” is a way in which factions come into existence. According to James Madison the most long lasting factions is having to do with the “distribution of  properties”. He states that the haves and have not will continue to have friction through out time. Factions will be form from civil to hostile depending on the severity of the issue and will disrupt they way in which things are done, some will make changes and some will cause pandemonium and will affect the way in which the government does things, in the end a decision will be made such as changes in the Constitution. 

      I choose this particular passage from James Madison “The Federalist No. 10” because the reason for mankind building factions have not change throughout history. In todays government we see that they are still parties that do not get along so each find ways to discredit each other. An example of factions coming together to make changes in a religious way is in toward the “Pledge of Allegiance’s…….’under God we trust”. Many groups and individuals have brought forth change to be made to the Pledge throughout the years and has continue to do in hopes of getting to change. They are hoping to take this case to the Supreme court if necessary. I also choose this passage because these issues are still affection us today and they are factions forming to make a difference in the way things are done and will be done in the future.