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The Federalist No. 51 was one of twenty-six articles written by James Madison from 1787 to 1788 in order to persuade the people of New York to ratify the Constitution. To him, conflicts of interests are inborn in human nature and as a result, people fall into various groups. He wanted to make sure that one group does not command all the decisions of the general public. The central issue for Madison was how to minimize the risk of tyranny of a minority (dictatorship) as well as tyranny of the majority (over minorities). The need for government proves that men abuse power, for "if men were angels, no government would be necessary." The best way to ascertain that power does not gradually compile in any one branch is to present constitutional safeguards that would make such concentration hard. The constitutional rights of everyone should check one man's personal interests and ambitions. Since no one is perfect, the rulers and the ruled, there has to be methods for the government to control the people and to control itself