1. It is evident from Readings 6.1 and 6.2 that the wealthy, propertied elite drafted the Constitution. These people, who were also known as “real property holders,” made up of merchants, landowners, and people in the shipping, manufacturing, and security industries. They dominated the Constitutional Convention because they stood to gain the most from a government that upheld economic interests and property rights.
On the other hand, the process was closed off to members of the lowest social groups, such as small farmers, laborers, indentured servants, and slaves. These disenfranchised groups were frequently denied fundamental political rights like voting and had no input into the Constitution’s formulation. For instance, Parenti highlights how the lower classes were systematically sidelined and lacked the property or position necessary to take part in the construction of the new government, while Beard contends that the Constitution was created to safeguard the economic interests of the elite. The wealthy ruling class’s power dynamics with the working and lower classes were strengthened by this exclusion, guaranteeing the elite’s continued hold on political and economic power.
2. The social class structure of early U.S. society shares similarities with today’s structure, yet it also differed greatly. Wealth inequality, with an elite class holding a disproportionate amount of political and economic power, is a defining feature of both periods. Small farmers, laborers, and enslaved people had little to no political representation in early America, while wealthy landowners, merchants, and industrialists formed the Constitution to safeguard their interests. In a similar vein, while many members of the working class strive for financial stability, a tiny number of affluent individuals and businesses control a major share of the nation’s wealth and influence government decisions.
However, there are key differences. Women, people of color, and non-property owners were explicitly and legally denied the ability to vote in early America, as political rights were closely linked to property ownership and social status. Even while most people are now legally allowed to vote, economic inequality still limits opportunities for social mobility, and marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by systemic barriers. The class system is still hierarchical, but the legal framework has developed, allowing more individuals to participate in the political process, even while economic power continues to impact political outcomes.
3. The people who wrote the Constitution were afraid of democracy because they feared that giving too much power to the general population, particularly the lower social classes, would jeopardize their social standing and material wealth. The framers were worried that direct democracy could result in “mob rule,” where the majority—made up of poorer farmers, laborers, and the disenfranchised—might vote for laws that would overturn property rights or redistribute wealth. Many of the framers were wealthy landowners, merchants, and businessmen.
They were especially concerned that the lower classes would demand economic changes like debt forgiveness, land redistribution, or increased taxes on the wealthy that may jeopardize the interests of the elite. The framers of the Constitution aimed to safeguard their class interests from what they perceived as the unexpected and potentially disruptive effects of popular power by creating a structure that limited direct participation, such as the Electoral College and the Senate, and ensured checks and balances. Fundamentally, their fear of democracy sprang from their desire to maintain control over the political and economic structures that guaranteed their elite status.
