1. In early America, what was required for someone to be able to vote?

In early America, only white men who owned property were allowed to vote. Voting was considered a privilege for those who had wealth and land because they were seen as having a “stake” in society. Poor people, women, enslaved Africans, and Native Americans were not given voting rights.

2. Which social class did most people belong to in early America?

Most people in early America were part of the working class — farmers, laborers, servants, and small craftsmen. They worked hard but had very little power or wealth. The upper class, made up of rich landowners and merchants, controlled politics and government decisions.

3. What was Madison’s goal in writing “Federalist #10”?

James Madison wrote Federalist #10 to argue that a large republic would protect the government from being controlled by any one group or “faction.” He believed that too much democracy could lead to chaos, so he wanted a system where the wealthy and educated could guide decisions and prevent the poor majority from taking control.

4. Why were the people who wrote the Constitution so afraid of democracy?

The framers of the Constitution were afraid of too much democracy because they thought the common people might make emotional or “dangerous” decisions that could threaten property and wealth. They wanted to protect their own interests and keep power in the hands of the educated elite. That’s why they created systems like the Electoral College and the Senate, which limited direct control by voters.

5. What were some of the reasons why the Constitution never abolished the slave trade?

The Constitution did not abolish the slave trade because many framers were slave owners themselves or depended on Southern support to ratify the document. To keep unity between the North and South, they allowed slavery to continue and even protected it for decades. This compromise showed how economic interests and class power were more important to them than equality.