Primary sourceBook1791

Public Opinion

James Madison · 1791

An essay by James Madison on the role of public opinion in republican government, published in his 1791 National Gazette series.

Madison wrote this essay himself, showing his thinking on government and public opinion early in the republic.

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Source: Wikisource

About this source

What it is

This is a short essay titled Public Opinion, written by James Madison in 1791 as part of a series of essays he published in the National Gazette.

Why it matters

Madison argues that public opinion limits what any government can do, and that government itself can shape that opinion. The essay shows Madison thinking through the relationship between the people and their government just a few years after the Constitution was adopted, and reflects his continuing interest in protecting liberty through informed citizens.

Look closer

Why might Madison think public opinion is the "real sovereign" in a free government?
What role does he give to things like roads, commerce, and a free press?
How might this essay connect to debates happening in Congress at the time?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of James Madison on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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