Why Does the American Form of Government Work

"By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.There are two methods of curing the mischiefs of faction: the one, by removing its causes; the other, by controlling its effects.There are again two methods of removing the causes of faction: the one, by destroying the liberty which is essential to its existence; the other, by giving to every citizen the same opinions, the same passions, and the same interests. It could never be more truly said than of the first remedy, that it was worse than the disease. Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency".

The Federalist Essay No. 10 written by James Madison speaks to how a country can protect themselves from factions. Factions of consist people who are united by "some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizen". People who join together because they believe in an act or value that is harmful to the people of America as a whole. Madison then disscusses the two ways a country can protect themselves from factions: removing the freedom the fraction that allows the faction  to exist and express thier beliefs or make it so that every citizen is the same in every way  Madison then says that it is impossible to abolish freedom because "liberty is to faction what air is to fire" meaning that liberty is the reason why a faction exist. Though it would be foolish to abolish liberty as it is would be like abolishing air; foolish as it would be eliminating what the Americans fought for in the revolution. The idea of preserving liberty is what makes the American form of government work.  When the Constitution was written in it made sure that the liberty of Americans were protected. Americans have the freedom to speak about what they believe without fear of retribution. Americans are able to have the freedom to live thier life to how they see fit. Americans are able to act in a manner they see fit without gudlielines or standards. Americans are able to live without repressive hands from the government; repressive hands that causes rebellion. That stands that the American from of govenrmemt works as it strives to protect a person's liberties, which prevents rebellions. If the government did not protect a person's libreties the American form of government would collapse. After all the reason why British rule in America did not work was because the Birtish did not protect or acknowledge the basic liberties of Americans. 

“Among the numerous advantages promised by a well constructed union, none deserves to be more accurately developed, than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction.”

James Madison speaks to the idea that if the there is a strong union then American can defend agaisnt factions (those with sharply contrasting views that harm the rights of the people). Madison belives that factions will not be a problem if American can stand as a union. Madison demonstrates that unity is what makes the American form of government work. It is the idea that if America can stand as one it will be strong enough to over come threats. Today the idea of unity is still strong in America as Americans are united by common values, beliefs, cultures, and languages. America tries to make decisions as one whole through voting and trial by jury. The American form of government works because it tries to make decisions that are bebeficail to all of Americans. After all, if unity in decisions and geographic unity did not exist American would be separated not by distance, but by parts. 

"Ambition must be made to counteract ambition."

James Madison in the Federalist Essay No. 51 speaks to the idea of a separation of powers in the government. He writes that the branches must be completely independent of each other. Also, to prevent a concentration of power in one area would to have branches follow constitutional guidelines. Therefore, a conclusion is drawn that the reason why the American form of government works is because there not just one group or person making decisions for their own person gain. As Madison put it "ambition must be made to counteract ambition" meaning that though there might be a group that wants to make choices for their own personal gain; there is another group that will want to to the same. Therefore both groups will prevent abuse of power as they do not want any group to amass the most power. This creates a government who's purpose is not to serve itself (as there will be someone to prevent it from happening), but the people. If there was not a form of a separation of powers one group will assume all of the power. Though what is the difference between that and King George III's rule?

"The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary".

In the Federalist Essay No. 51 James Madison speaks to how men have flaws and are aware of it. As "government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature" meaning that the reason why a government exist is because men are flawed. If men "men were angels" they would not be prone to human folly. As a result, the reason why the American form of government works is because men know that they are not perfect. That they make mistakes and pass laws that are harsh and unjust. But as men know that they are not perfect they are open to making changes and rectifying pass grievances in order to make America beneficial for all humans there. This is exemplified in the thirteenth amendment, which banned slavery in America. Slavery was once accepted and a common sight in America, but it was unjust as African Americans (are human beings entitled to basic human rights). Americans later realized that it was not just and made sure to admen this blunder. That is why the American form of government works as men know they are not flawless and are open to correcting their flaws for the betterment of Americans.