1.Large landowners, such as manorial lords, were primarily among those who contributed to the Constitution’s drafting. Other groups, including plant owners, creditors, merchants, and plant owners, backed this initiative. Slaves, indentured servants, and small-scale white farmers were among the groups that were excluded because they were thought to pose the biggest threat.

2.I’d say that the social framework of the early American society is still present in today’s society. The two social strata of those who own riches and those who don’t still exist today. Wealthy people in early American culture, such as slaveowners, were mainly interested in ways to increase their own riches and defend their estates. Capitalists in today’s culture are primarily interested in their own interests, ways to increase their income, and measures to defend their properties. And the upper class has always taken advantage of the working people for their own personal gain.

3.Because of what I mentioned in my response to their first question—the rise of the lower class—they were terrified of democracy. Giving these men and women an equal voice was evidently something that America was difficult to accomplish given that they had witnessed daily large-scale migrations of immigrants and slaves to the new country.

1. The Consitution was written exclusively by a social class of property-owning white men, excluding women, the poor, and non-whites. The reading specifies the unhealthy growth of the lower class population and digresses into their economic struggles, paramount amongst them being high taxes.
2. The social structure of the early united states saw a much wider disparity between rich and poor than we’ve seen in the united states since the Rolling 20s and the Great Depression. However, since the 90s this disparity has started to grow again and the middle class has shrunk significantly in the last 30 years and continues to plummet yearly at an exponential basis. We are much better off as low/middle-class Americans today than during the post-revolutionary era, but it is theorized we’re living at the butt end of a golden age so it all remains to be seen.
3. They were scared of democracy because of what I answered the first question with: the growth of the lower class. America had seen massive amounts of immigrants and slaves moving to the new world on a daily basis, and to give these men and women an equal voice was obviously something they were resistant to do.

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.

1. The social class that wrote the constitution was the the upper class  who are business owners and property owner and it was made  in a way where the lower class have little to no power over the upper class .

2. To be honest the social classes has not changed as much but there is more opportunities to the lower class today then back then , but the lower class still struggle a lot more people are becoming homeless and sick because of the lack of living needs . 

3. They were afraid that the power is going to go to the wrong hands. Democracy was called the most of all political evils .

POL 100 (0504) – Intro. to American Govt. – Fall 2022

Discussion Board 6.1

Q1. The social class that wrote the Constitution was the owning class and the class that was excluded was the majority class or what can now be compared to the working class. The owning class that wrote the Constitution were wealthy white males who were property owners i.e. landowners, slaves, merchants. The majority class, included Native Americans, persons of African descent, women, indentured servants and white males who did not own sufficient property. The differences between the two social classes, owning class and majority (working) class were very defined. According to M. Parenti, “just such wealthy and powerful “gentlemen,” our “Founding Fathers,” congregated in Philadelphia for the professed purpose of…. (pg. 6).” Essentially, the rich and powerful were the main representative force in revising a government that in essence was looking out for the best interests of the wealthy, their best interest. The thoughts and opinions of the majority class were not taken at all into consideration mainly because according to M. Parenti, “the working people of that day have been portrayed as parochial spendthrifts who never paid their debts…. (pg. 6).” Not only were what would be considered minorities today not included, but these groups of people were seen as troublemakers that the government needed to keep control of. 

Q2. There is a similarity between the social class structure of the early United States and our social structure today in that wealth is still considered to yield power in how the government functions. In our society today we still have the working class that is limited to that position and suffer labor exploitation just like the majority class suffered, although perhaps not as extreme and the rich, who are in the majority and are composed of mostly white males. The system of dependency still exists wherein the capitalist, rich companies mostly controlled by rich white individuals (mostly male), are the ones providing the goods and services that the public needs. The slave, indentured servant, serfs also known as the working class of our modern time, were also dependant on the the rich masters for their needs. We as a nation, are always in some form, repeating cycles of the past when it comes to the treatment and inequality of our citizens, despite all of the laws that have been created to the contrary.

Q3. The people who wrote the Constitution, who were the owning class, were so afraid of democracy because it was seen as a movement that would threaten the existing class structure of the rich. According to M. Parenti, “They were determined that persons of birth and fortune should control the affairs of the nation and check the“leveling impulses” of the propertyless multitude who composed the “majority faction” (majority class) (pg. 7)”. In essence, democracy would create an environment of equal opportunity for all citizens regardless of social class structure that would infringe the owning class structure of being rich, getting richer, power and control.

1. The framers of the Constitution were mainly the big land owners for instance, manorial lords, Other categories, such as plantation owners, creditors, merchants, plant owners, supported this move. The categories which were excluded were the slaves, indented servants, small white farmers ,which were seen as the greatest threat. 

2. The social class structure different from the current one. While nowadays, the middle class dominates, back in the days, the majority of people where poor disadvantaged. One of the reasons is the big accent on farming in the past, which meant there were a few big land owners (manorial lords and slave owning planters) and many small farmers the latter were often highly indebted and doing bad , which often led to rebellions. The working class was present but not too numerous. Among those who were doing the worst were the numerous slaves and indented servants (social classes that aren’t present today). There were also categories like merchants, plant owners, money lenders, etc.

3. The framers of the Constitution were mainly afraid to be deprived of their wealth. They realized that the “propertyless” were the many and they were the few and that the many could rebel against them potentially removing them from their positions of power and confiscating their wealth. Additionally, they treated with disregard the poor, ignorant, and unschooled and thought they are totally unfit to decide about the nation’s future. Also, they were the ones economically exploiting these poor, for instance offering them credits, charging rent, etc.

1. The social class that was excluded from writing the constitution was the lower class. Since they weren’t wealthy. In opening paragraph, it clearly states “instituted for the defense of the rich against the poor”. The social class that wrote the constitution was the upper class, since they are rich and powerful.
2. I feel it is different. Back then there was a working class but I felt it fell more on rich or poor. Those whom were rich had wealth from previous ancestors. The poor ones also worked but made it enough for ends to meet.
3. The people who wrote the constitution were afraid of Democracy because they knew it would become a country where they would elect the person in power. As they say “someone for the people and by the people”. It would no longer be a rich person making their own rules, instead the country would want to make it’s own choices, as far as willing to rebel and go against the rich.

1. 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 comments, make sure you clearly specify the difference between the two classes by giving examples from the readings.
2. The upper class were the ones who wrote the Constitution. Both readings 6.1 and 6.2 detail greatly upon as “big landowners, merchants and bankers exercised a strong influence over political economic life.” The classes that were excluded and were not allowed to participate in this process were lower class. As stated in Reading 6.1, “All Native Americans, persons of African descent, women, indentured servants and white males lacking sufficient property.” As the upper class are included with individuals with wealth and power and the lower class are included with individuals with less wealth and power, this was very unfair. Throughout the timeline of writing the Constitution, only property owning white males were able to vote. Within reading 6.2, the quote “the government wanted a stronger central power that would resold ve problems among the thirteen states regarding trade and duties, protect. overseas commercial and diplomatic interests, effectively propagate the financial and commercial interests of the affluent class and defend the wealthy from the competing claims of other class within the society.”
4. 2. Would you say that the social class structure of early United States society, was the same as ours today, or different? Explain.
5. The social class structure of early United States society I would describe is about different from ours today. As prior to years ago, only upper classes and those who were wealthy enough have such great power of authority. In today’s society, we all have an equal amount of power to be able to speak on what we feel. Although many political and economical living has many individuals who are born into or become wealthy, no matter what social class you are in, you have power to become and speak upon what you believe in and for what is right within our society.
7. 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.
8. The people ,our Founding Fathers, who wrote the Constitution were so afraid of democracy. In Reading 6.1, George Washington stated “to contain the threat of the people rather than to embrace their participation and their competence.” The founding fathers themselves were wealthy and powerful however, they wanted “to contain the threat of the people rather than embrace their participation and their competence.”

1. The social class that wrote the constitution were the upper class. These were landowners, people without any debts, merchants, manufacturers, slaveholders etc. The working/lower class were excluded and not allowed to participate in the writing of the constitution. These were the poor farmers, artisans, indentured servants, and slaves. These people were poor, and needed to work to survive, they could not afford to go to Philadelphia and a write the constitution, unlike the wealthy and property owners. The upper class believed that only the people with wealth or born in wealth should control the affairs of the nation, so they didn’t think that the lower class should be involved.

2. I would say that the social structure of the early United States society is the same as ours today. It’s still the same two social classes today, those who own wealth, and those who don’t. Those who own wealth in early United States society, like the slaveholders, who concerned only about themselves, ways to make more money, and protect their properties. In our society today, the capitalist is only concerned about their interest, ways to make more money, and protect their properties. And the working class have always been exploited by the upper class for their own gain only.

3. The people who wrote the constitution were so afraid of democracy because it would give power to the working class. They wanted the upper class to have the power to make laws, but in democracy, everyone must be included in law making decisions. This poses a danger to the upper class because the working class would have a say in how things work. They wanted power to remain in the hands of the rich. They didn’t want a system that would favor the working class. They believed that democracy would led to more uprising like the shays’ rebellion.

1. Based on the arguments presented in Readings 6.1 and 6.2, the social class that wrote the constitution was the upper class which is the Wealthy people(the owning class). The social class that was excluded and not allowed to participate in this process was the working class since they aren’t making over $40,000 annually you weren’t considered wealthy in their eyes. For the example from reading 6.1, ” the big landowners, merchants, and bankers exercised a strong influence over politico-economic life, often dominating the local newspapers that served the interests of commerce. ” It shows how the wealthy people were a strong influence on the political-economic life and they were more respected. In reading 6.2 it states, ” In no state had the working-class developed a consciousness of a separate interest or an organization that commanded the attention of the politicians of the time. In turning over the hundreds of pages of writings left by eighteenth-century thinkers one cannot help being impressed with the fact that the existence and special problems of a working class, then already sufficiently numerous to form a considerable portion of society, were outside the realm of politics, except in so far as the future power of the proletariat was foreseen and feared.” The lower class(the working class) wasn’t considered powerful during that time because they weren’t wealthy.
2. I would say that the social class of early United States society is the same as today’s social class. The reason I say this is because upper-class people still have the same opportunities to be heard politically and get lots of recognition but also lower-class people can be part of politics. The working class people have many more opportunities the government helps them with rent, food, etc.
3. The people who wrote the constitution were so afraid of democracy. The reason the upper class(the wealthy class) was afraid of democracy was that they were worried that the power would be put with the wrong person. As stated in Reading 6.1, “They were determined that persons of birth and fortune should control the affairs of the and check the “leveling impulses” of the propertyless multitude who composed “the majority faction” (majority class). “To secure the public good and private rights against the danger of such a faction,”. They were afraid because they knew that it would give the working class power over them. They didn’t believe in the working class would strive in this country.