The Federalist Papers Study Questions
Read The Federalist Papers Numbers 10, 51, and 78. Answer the following questions in
your own words.
The authors of The Federalist had varying and sometimes clashing ideas about
government, but they agreed strongly on certain fundamental ideas: republicanism,
federalism, separation of powers, and free government.
Define the following terms:
Republicanism:
Federalism:
Separation of Powers:
Free Government:
Federalist, No. 10:
Who wrote this essay?
What are factions?
What are the causes of factions?
Federalist, No. 51:
Who wrote this essay?
Publius writes: “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to
govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.”
What does this reveal about Publius’s views of human nature?
Federalist, No. 78:
Who wrote this essay?
Why does Publius regard an independent judiciary to be a matter of utmost importance?