Why was the development of direct democracy so important to athens?

The territory of the united states is of vast extent; it now contains near three millions of souls, and is capable of containing much > ten times that number. is it practicable for a country, so large and so numerous as they will soon become, to elect a representation, that will speak their sentiments, without their becoming so numerous as to be incapable of transacting public business? it certainly is not." which founding document and idea does this excerpt reflect? brutus no. 1—limited government brutus no. 1—republicanism federalist no. 10—limited government federalist no. 10—republicanism