Melissa Boatswain
POL -100
Self-Assessment Exercise 6.2
- What does the word “disenfranchised” mean?
The term “disenfranchised” refers to the state of being deprived of the right to vote or to
participate in political processes. It often pertains to individuals or groups who have been
systematically excluded from civic engagement and decision-making due to various
factors, such as race, class, or gender. - Who were the members of the “Disenfranchised”? What were some common factors
shared by members of this group? What social class that we have studied in
previous modules is Beard describing here?
The members of the “Disenfranchised” were primarily composed of lower-income
individuals, including laborers, small farmers, and others without significant property
ownership. Common factors shared by this group included limited economic resources,
lack of political influence, and exclusion from the voting process due to property
qualifications and other restrictions. In previous modules, this group can be associated
with the lower or working class, which typically struggled for representation and had
minimal power in the political landscape. - Which social class did the “real property holders” and those in “manufacturing,
shipping, and personal securities” belong to? Why? What makes their class
membership clear?
The “real property holders” and those involved in “manufacturing, shipping, and personal
securities” belonged to the upper or elite class. Their class membership is clear due to
their ownership of significant assets and wealth, which provided them with economic
power and influence over political decisions. This class consisted of wealthy landowners,
merchants, and industrialists who had the resources necessary to shape policy and
maintain their interests in the government.
