1. Based on both Readings, the Constitution was mainly written by people from the wealthy property-owning class. These were large landowners, merchants, bankers, investors, and slave owners. They had money, land, and businesses, which gave them a lot of influence in politics. For example, Parenti explains that many of the “Founding Fathers” were wealthy men who controlled land, commerce, and other economic resources.

Beard also shows that people who owned land, investments, shipping businesses, or government securities supported the Constitution because it would protect their property and financial interests.

The class that was excluded from this process was the disenfranchised and working class. This group included enslaved people, women, indentured servants and poor men who did not own property. Since voting required property in most states, these people had no real political power and were not represented at the Constitutional Convention.

2. I think the social class structure of early American society is similar to today in some ways. There are still big differences between people who own wealth and businesses and those who have to work for wages to survive . Even though more people can vote today, economic inequality still affects politics.

3. The writers of the Constitution were afraid of democracy because they believed the majority of people were poor. They worried that if the majority had too much power, they might pass laws that would take property or wealth away from the rich. Because of this , they created a system that limited direct democracy and protected property.