1. Based on readings 6.1 and 6.2, it is clear that the social class responsible for writing the Constitution were the Upper class (i.e the most rich and wealthy). The class most excluded from participating in the process was the working class. First off, the Upper Class created the Constitution to give more power to the central government, which at that time was comprised of wealthy property owners and the like. By doing so, it would be able to regulate the distribution of property and wealth to keep it in the hands of the upper class. Second, they felt an uprising within the working class and the other lower classes of society, therefore created the Constitution as a means to keep peace. Reading 6.1 states that very early on. It says, “…a constitution was much needed ‘to contain the threat of the people rather than to embrace their participation and their competence’ ” (M. Parenti, 6). This reasoning by George Washington gives a clear understanding of why they would not want the working class to take place in contributing to the Constitution, as it would allow the working class to gain more power and facilitate the spread of wealth within social classes.
  2. The social classes of early United States have some similarities as social classes today, as their are differences also. In a general sense, in early America each social class had sub groups that had different characteristics within that social class. That is still true today, as there are varying degrees of wealth within each social class. One main different back then was that women and minorities were not even allowed to own money or property, therefore there was less fluctuation from one class to another. Nowadays, there are plenty of women and minorities that are in the upper class, as well as people going from one class to another.
  3. The writers were afraid of democracy for two main reasons. One, it would allow for the distribution of wealth between all classes, which in turn would take away that wealth from themselves (i.e the upper class), which went against their fundamental belief that the wealthy should be allowed to keep their wealth. Two, democracy would allow lower social classes more control/a say in government, which in turn would fundamentally change how society would function. Back in those days, the government was full of upper class individuals creating policy and laws that would benefit only those in government. Allowing other classes to take part in government would change that dynamic, and again would contradict what they deemed as appropriate in their form of governing.

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