1. Each of the readings argue that the small wealthy elite founded our constitution. They represented the best interest for businessmen. Some of these people included landowners, merchants, and financers who sought to form a government that would protect their economic interests. The lower class such as laborers/indentured servants were exempt from participating in the creation of the constitution and had little to no influence in the formation of government. In reading 6.2, Beard highlights that the Constitution was a product of the economic interests of the delegates, who aimed to secure their property and wealth. He also points out that the framers were worried about debts and economic instability that could arise from having a democracy which might favor the lower classes.
  2. The social class structure in early U.S. society was quite different from what we see today. In the late 1700s, there was a much clearer separation between the wealthy elite and the lower classes. The middle class was practically non existent. The rich had much more political power and influence, while the general population had fewer rights and less representation. Although economic inequalities still exist, the political system allows more people from different social classes to participate.
  3. The elite who wrote the Constitution were worried about direct democracy because they thought it could lead to chaos or threaten property rights. They were concerned that uneducated voters might make choices that could hurt the wealth and stability of the rich. This fear came from their own social status, as they wanted to protect their interests from the potential changes that a more equal society might bring. Parenti points out that the framers set up a system with checks and balances to limit the influence of the general public in order to keep control over the government and safeguard their economic interests.

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