Final answer:
The Founding Fathers believed that a direct democracy was a bad form of government because it could lead to majority tyranny and the oppression of minority rights. Instead, they favored a representative democracy to mitigate the influence of factions and create a more efficient decision-making process.
Step-by-step explanation:
Direct Democracy and the Founding Fathers
The Founding Fathers of the United States believed that a direct democracy was a bad form of government because they feared majority tyranny. They believed that direct democracies could easily lead to the oppression of minority rights and interests. Instead, they opted for a representative democracy, which allowed for the election of individuals to make decisions on behalf of the people.
For example, James Madison, one of the Founding Fathers, argued in Federalist Paper No. 10 that direct democracies were vulnerable to factions, which he defined as groups that pursue their own self-interest at the expense of the common good. Madison believed that a large and diverse republic with representatives would better mitigate the influence of factions and promote the interests of the whole.
In a direct democracy, every citizen would have a vote on every issue, which could lead to majority oppression and the exclusion of minority voices. It would also be impractical for large countries like the United States, where decisions need to be made more efficiently and effectively.
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