1. 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”

2. 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. 

3. 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 

1. 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

The U.S. Constitution was written by an elite, wealthy upper class made up of large landowners, southern slaveholders, merchants, and creditors. In contrast, the vast majority of ordinary people were completely excluded from the process. This excluded group included enslaved African Americans, Native Americans, indentured servants, women, and poor white men without property, who together made up about 90 percent of the adult population. The economic divide between the two groups was sharp: while the framers held significant investments, held government debt, and loaned money, the excluded working class consisted largely of struggling small farmers, urban laborers, and debtors who faced steep taxes, heavy rents, and the risk of debtor’s prison or property seizure.

2. Would say that the social class structure of early United States society, was the same as ours today, or different? Explain.

While early American society shared a similar level of severe wealth concentration with the United States today, its fundamental class structure was different. Today, legal barriers based on property ownership, race, and gender have been removed, meaning all adult citizens formally have the right to vote. In the late 1700s, political power was legally tied directly to wealth and property. Furthermore, early America’s economy was heavily built upon explicit institutions of forced labor like chattel slavery and indentured servitude, whereas the modern economy relies primarily on wage and salaried work

3. 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. 

The framers feared democracy because they equated it with rule by the propertyless majority, which they believed would directly threaten their wealth and property rights. As James Madison noted, the fundamental division in society was between those who owned property and those who did not, and the framers worried that giving ordinary citizens equal voting power would lead to “leveling impulses” like canceling debts, redistributing land, or printing cheap paper money. Events like Shays’s Rebellion—where struggling debtor farmers took up arms to stop home foreclosures—deeply alarmed the wealthy delegates. To protect their class interests, they deliberately designed the new government with several structural firewalls against direct democracy, including an unelected Supreme Court, a Senate initially chosen by state legislatures, and an Electoral College to limit the direct influence of the public.

1. Which social class wrote the Constitution, and which class was excluded?

Based on Readings 6.1 and 6.2, the Constitution was mainly written by members of the wealthy, property-owning class. This included large landowners, merchants, bankers, creditors, slaveholders, and businessmen. Parenti explains that wealthy landowners, merchants, and bankers already had strong control over economic and political life before the Constitutional Convention.

The working and property less classes were mostly excluded from the process. This included poor farmers, artisans, indentured servants, people without property, enslaved people, and women. Beard states that enslaved people, indentured servants, men who failed property requirements, and women were not represented at the Convention. Parenti also points out that there were no poor farmers, artisans, indentured servants, or enslaved people at the Convention to present their side. This shows a major class difference because the people writing the Constitution generally owned wealth and property, while many of the people excluded depended on their labor, farming, or other work to survive.

2. Was the social class structure of the early United States the same as ours today or different?

I would say the class structure was similar in some ways but also very different. Early America had a clear division between wealthy property owners and ordinary working people. Parenti describes poor farmers struggling with high rents, taxes, low incomes, and debt, while wealthy landowners, merchants, and bankers held much more economic and political power. Beard similarly describes small farmers as a large debtor class that often came into conflict with wealthier economic interests.

The major difference is that political participation in early America was much more restricted. Property requirements prevented many people from voting, and women, enslaved people, Native Americans, indentured servants, and many poor White men were excluded. Today, those types of property requirements do not determine who can vote. Still, the readings’ broader distinction between people who own substantial wealth and people who mainly depend on working for income can still be used to discuss social class today.

3. Why were the people who wrote the Constitution so afraid of democracy?

According to the readings, many of the framers feared democracy because they believed that giving the working and propertyless majority too much political power could threaten the property and economic interests of the wealthy class. Shays’ Rebellion was an important example. Poor farmers facing debt and economic hardship rebelled, which increased fears among wealthy political leaders about what could happen if ordinary people organized together.

Parenti shows that several framers openly distrusted rule by ordinary people. Alexander Hamilton described society as divided between the wealthy few and the mass of the people, while other framers argued that ordinary people should have limited involvement in government. Beard also describes Madison’s concern that people without substantial property might organize around their shared economic interests and threaten property rights. Therefore, according to these readings, their fear of democracy was strongly connected to class conflict. Greater political power for poor farmers, workers, and debtors could allow the majority to pass policies that went against the interests of wealthy property owners and creditors.

1.Based on the readings, the wealthy capitalist class wrote the Constitution, and the poor debtor class was excluded.The main difference between the two classes was money and owning property. Parenti explains that only rich men could hold office because the rules required a lot of wealth. For example, a South Carolina senator needed an estate worth at least £7,000.

The excluded class did not have enough property to participate. Parenti points out this included Native Americans, slaves, women, and poor white men. Charles Beard describes this group as a “large debtor class” made up mostly of small farmers who owed money. In short, the rich property owners made the rules, and everyone else was kept out.

2.I believe the social class structure of early United States society is very similar to ours today. There has not been a real difference because the political structure still benefits the rich capitalist class more than the working class.

For example, today we see working people paying taxes that cover the national debt, while the rich often find ways to benefit or avoid paying their share. This same dynamic existed when the Constitution was written. In Reading 6.2, Charles Beard explains that wealthy elites held the government’s public debt. They created a strong central government that could tax regular, poorer people to pay off that debt, which made the rich bondholders even richer. Beard also points out that wealthy business owners, like those involved in shipping and commerce, made sure the new government protected their profits. Just like today, the system was structured to use the working class to benefit the wealthy.

3.The people who wrote the Constitution were afraid of democracy because they saw it as a threat to their wealth and stability.They knew the working class was the majority. They feared that if everyday people gained real political power, they would use the government to pass laws favoring the poor—such as canceling debts, printing paper money, or redistributing land and property. Events like Shays’s Rebellion confirmed their worst fears, showing the wealthy elite that common people were willing to fight against upper-class economic privileges.In my opinion, we still see this today. Some political parties and groups are still afraid of true democracy because it means everyday people might challenge the power and wealth of the rich.

1. According to the reading, the Constitution was mainly written by wealthy people who owned property and had money. These included rich merchants, creditors, and landowners. Meanwhile, poor workers, enslaved people, servants, and women were excluded from participating. For example, the reading explains that many men couldn’t even vote because they didn’t own enough property. This shows how rich people had more power than regular people back then.
2. I think social classes back then were similar to today in some ways, but also different. Rich people had more money and control, while poorer people struggled financially. The reading talks about small farmers who owed money and had problems with wealthy landowners. We still see similar problems today because people struggle with debt and paying bills. However, back then slavery existed, and women and many poor people couldn’t vote, which makes society very different from today.
3. I think some of the people who wrote the Constitution were scared of democracy because they didn’t want poorer people having too much control. They worried that people in debt would vote for laws that helped themselves instead of protecting wealthy people’s property. The reading mentions Shays’ Rebellion, where farmers were protesting financial problems. Wealthy creditors wanted a stronger government that could protect their money and property from laws that benefited people in debt.

1. Based on both readings, the Constitution was written by the wealthy property-owning class. These were people who owned property, large amounts of land, enslaved people and also included merchants or creditors. The working class, enslaved people and women were excluded from participation.  Reading 6.2 especially argues that property requirements kept a large part of the population from having a voice in the process.
2. I think the class structure was similar in one main way but still very different from today. There was a wealthy class that owned most of the property and had more political power. There was also a much larger group of people who had to work to survive. We still have that divide today. The difference is that early America also had slavery and indentured servitude. Voting was also much more restricted than it is now.
3. The people who wrote the Constitution were afraid that too much democracy would give the poorer majority enough power to challenge the wealthy class. They worried that people in debt or without property could vote for things like canceling debts or changing how property was distributed. Shays’ Rebellion made those fears stronger because farmers were already protesting debt and taxes. The rebellion became one of the events that pushed leaders toward creating a stronger national government. 

1. Social Classes and the Constitution

Based on Readings 6.1 and 6.2, the Constitution was mainly written by members of the wealthy, property-owning class. Parenti describes the delegates as wealthy and powerful men, including merchants, slaveholders, manufacturers, and large property owners. The working class and people without property were mostly excluded from the process. Beard also describes slaves, indentured servants, women, and many men without enough property as disenfranchised. This shows that the people who wrote the Constitution had very different economic positions from many of the people who were not represented.

2. Social Class in Early America and Today

I think the social class structure of early America was similar to ours in some ways, but also different. In both cases, there is a division between people who own large amounts of wealth and people who mainly depend on working for income. In early America, this included wealthy merchants and large landowners compared with poor farmers, artisans, servants, and other workers. However, the political system was much more restrictive at that time. Many people were excluded from voting because of property requirements, race, gender, or legal status.

3. Fear of Democracy

Based on the readings, the people who wrote the Constitution were afraid that democracy would give the propertyless majority too much political power. Many of the framers worried that ordinary people could use political power to challenge the interests of wealthy property owners. Events such as Shays’ Rebellion increased these fears because poor farmers were already protesting debt and economic conditions. From this perspective, democracy could allow the larger working and propertyless classes to organize around their shared interests and challenge the wealthier class.

1. Which class wrote the Constitution, and which was excluded?

According to the passages, the Constitution was written by the wealthy class. Parenti calls them wealthy gentlemen. The ones who owned lands, banks, factories, slaves and more. These men (such as Robert Morris, Hamilton and Washington) mostly had each other’s interests in mind, more than that of the poor and propertyless majority.

The ones who were excluded from taking part in the constitution were: slaves, indentured servants, men who did not own enough property, Native Americans, poor farmers, tenants, artisans and women.

The framers were creditors, they owned land, slaves, factories whereas the excluded ones were the debtors who had rents, taxes, and heavy interests to pay. The debtor class pushed for measures that would help like debtor-relief laws, whereas the wealthy class wanted a government that would block them.

2. Is the class structure of early America the same as today’s, or different?

In my opinion there are differences and similarities between the two.

Early America had legal class barriers, such as slavery and voting only being permitted for white men who owned enough property. Those have been abolished today. Voting is permitted for all adult citizens, no more slavery and the economy has grown enough to allow all types of ways to earn.

However, most of the nation’s wealth is still mainly owned by a small percantage of people. The wealthy still use their wealth to influence the government and economy whilst the lower income class still have not much say. Thus, although there are no more exclusions, legally, the power and advantages still remain for the wealthy and not the working class who are still debtors (loans, rents, debt etc).

3. Why were the framers so afraid of democracy?

Democracy meant the majority rules. In the 1700s, the majority were the poor. The framers feared democracy would lead to debt relief, paper money and stay laws which all hurt creditors, as mentioned by Beard. Madison, in Federalist No. 10, warned that “a rage for paper money, for an abolition of debts, for an equal division of property” could spread among the people, and Elbridge Gerry went as far as calling democracy “the worst of all political evils.

They also detested the working class (they didn’t think they could be trusted with public interest) and feared rebellion. As a result, the framers built a system to limit majority power. Senators and the president were chosen indirectly, by state legislatures and the Electoral College rather than directly by the voters, and Supreme Court justices were appointed to life terms and elected by no one.

1. 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.
2. Would say that the social class structure of early United States society, was the same as ours today, or different? Explain.
3. 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.