- Based on the arguments presented in Readings 6.1 and 6.2, which social class wrote the Constitution, and which class was excluded and not allowed to participate in this process? In your comment, make sure you clearly specify the difference between the two classes by giving examples from the readings.
- Would say that the social class structure of early United States society, was the same as ours today, or different? Explain.
- Why were the people who wrote the Constitution so afraid of democracy? Hint: think about how to answer this question by discussing it in terms of social classes.
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Both Parenti and Beard explain that the Constitution was mainly written by the wealthy class landowners, merchants, slaveholders, and creditors who wanted to protect their money and property. Beard shows that bankers and men who held government bonds needed a strong national government to make sure debts were paid. Parenti shows that the framers wanted to stop uprisings like Shays’ Rebellion, where poor farmers and debtors rose up against the system.
On the other hand, many groups were left out: slaves, servants, women, and men without property. Beard calls them “the disenfranchised.” They had no voice in the process, even though they were a big part of society.
If we compare that time to today, the class system looks different but still feels familiar. We don’t have property tests for voting anymore, but rich people, big businesses, and lobbyists still have more power in government than ordinary people.
The framers were afraid of democracy because they feared the lower classes would vote for laws that hurt the wealthy. Madison even said that giving too much power to working people could threaten property rights. To them, protecting the few with money and land was more important than letting everyone have an equal say.