Procedures

• Absorb, Interpret, React:

  Handout: Federalist 51 Analysis (Google Doc)

• VIDEOS:

  Have students watch the following video clips:

  Video Clip: Relying More Heavily on "Inventions of Prudence" (1:49) Professor Colleen Sheehan discusses the sentiments communicated in Federalist 51

  Video Clip: "These Guys Were Not Sentimental" (:41) Author Myron Magnet discusses the mindset of James Madison, referencing Federalist 51

  Video Clip: Madison (or Hamilton) - Who Wrote Fed 51? (1:22)

  Video Clip: George Will discusses Federalist 51 (:50)

  Video Clip: "When One Branch of Government Gets Too Big for Their Britches” (:56) Rep. French Hill (R-AR) discusses the appropriations and authorization powers in the context of Federalist 51

  Video Clip: "If Men Were Angels..." (1:54) Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) quotes Federalist 51 in support of an argument against government exercise of power

• Discussion Questions//Writing Prompts:

  • Indicate three examples of how we have “so [contrived[ the interior structure of the government as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places.” To what extent, in your view, does each serve to “[maintain] in practice the necessary partition of power among the several departments, as laid down in the Constitution”? Justify your response!

  • To what extent do you agree with Federalist 51’s assertion that “In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that for religious rights”? Explain your position!

  • Consider the following excerpt from Federalist 51: “Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.” Cite a specific historical example that supports the argument that the American experiment has reflected this assertion and a cite an example that refutes that argument. Explain how your examples reflect their respective positions!

  • Cite two specific Constitutional checks and balances that, in your view, best reflect the assertion in Federalist 51 that “The provision for defense must in this, as in all other cases, be made commensurate to the danger of attack. Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.” Justify your position!

  • Do you agree with Federalist 51’s assertion that government itself is “the greatest of all reflections on human nature?” Explain your position and then cite an argument for the other side.

• Extension Activity Options:

  Argumentative Essay Free Response Question- Public Opinion Respond to this writing prompt (Google Doc) presented in the style of the Argumentative Question component of the redesigned AP Government and Politics exam.

  Argumentative Essay Free Response Question- Informal Powers Respond to this writing prompt (Google Doc) presented in the style of the Argumentative Question component of the redesigned AP Government and Politics exam.

  JusticeQuest: Use the “Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.” as your inspiration to create a storyboard for a “Pursuit of Justice” American-history-themed video game that includes the details of the game, such as: Who would be the players? What would be the levels? The challenges? What would the tagline be? What power boosts would be available? etc.!

  Federalist Papers Side by Side: Compare the below paragraph of Federalist 51 with Federalist 10. What language in Federalist 10 reflects this language from Federalist 51? What ideas of Federalist 10 are reflected in this language from Federalist 51? “There are but two methods of providing against this evil: the one by creating a will in the community independent of the majority that is, of the society itself; the other, by comprehending in the society so many separate descriptions of citizens as will render an unjust combination of a majority of the whole very improbable, if not impracticable. The first method prevails in all governments possessing an hereditary or self-appointed authority. This, at best, is but a precarious security; because a power independent of the society may as well espouse the unjust views of the major, as the rightful interests of the minor party, and may possibly be turned against both parties. The second method will be exemplified in the federal republic of the United States. Whilst all authority in it will be derived from and dependent on the society, the society itself will be broken into so many parts, interests, and classes of citizens, that the rights of individuals, or of the minority, will be in little danger from interested combinations of the majority.”

  American Democracy Cleans and Sparkles Better! : Create a variation on a classic “our brand is better than their brand” dish soap or laundry detergent commercial, using the ideas from the below paragraph Federalist 51 to make the case that our federal republican government is superior to the “hereditary or self-appointed authority” found in other nations: “There are but two methods of providing against this evil: the one by creating a will in the community independent of the majority that is, of the society itself; the other, by comprehending in the society so many separate descriptions of citizens as will render an unjust combination of a majority of the whole very improbable, if not impracticable. The first method prevails in all governments possessing an hereditary or self-appointed authority. This, at best, is but a precarious security; because a power independent of the society may as well espouse the unjust views of the major, as the rightful interests of the minor party, and may possibly be turned against both parties. The second method will be exemplified in the federal republic of the United States. Whilst all authority in it will be derived from and dependent on the society, the society itself will be broken into so many parts, interests, and classes of citizens, that the rights of individuals, or of the minority, will be in little danger from interested combinations of the majority.”

  Federalist 51 Reverse Caption Contest: Choose one of the quotes from Federalist 51 that is applicable to a current government event or action. Find a picture of that event/action and use the quote to caption the picture