- 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?
The Elite wrote the constitution, and the lower working class was excluded and not allowed to participate in this process. “In 1787, just such wealthy and powerful “gentlemen,” our “Founding Fathers,” congregated in Philadelphia for the professed purpose of revising
the Articles of Confederation and strengthening the central government.” “Small farmers were burdened by heavy rents, ruinous taxes, and low incomes. To survive, they frequently had to borrow money at high interest rates. To meet their debts, they mortgaged their future crops and went still deeper into debt. Interest rates on debts ranged from 25 to 40 percent, and taxes fell most heavily on those of modest means”
- Would say that the social class structure of early United States society was the same as ours today, or different? Explain.
It’s definitely different.Today, wealth is even more squeezed at the top, with the top 1% holding most of the riches compared to the 10%, we have no slaves, and everyone over 18 can vote.
- 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.
Because they did not want the majority of common people using their power to take their wealth
