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 comment, make sure you clearly specify the difference between the two classes by giving examples from the readings.

According to Michael Parenti and Charles Beard, the U.S. Constitution was written by members of the economic elite, not by ordinary people. Parenti describes the framers as wealthy merchants, bankers, large landowners, bondholders, and slaveholders who had significant financial stakes in the new government. Beard’s economic analysis supports this claim by showing that many of the Constitution’s authors owned government securities, extensive property, or commercial interests that would benefit from a strong central authority. These men wanted a government that could protect contracts, regulate currency, collect taxes, and suppress economic unrest. In contrast, the lower classes—including small farmers, wage laborers, debtors, women, enslaved people, Native Americans, and non-property-holding white men—were excluded from the Constitutional Convention and the ratification process. Beard emphasizes that these groups had little to no political voice and that their economic interests, such as debt relief or paper money, were ignored or deliberately restrained by the Constitution.

2. Would say that the social class structure of early United States society, was the same as ours today, or different? Explain.

The social class structure of early U.S. society was different in its openness but similar in its inequality. Parenti explains that in the late 18th century, political power was openly restricted to property owners, making class divisions explicit and legally enforced. Voting rights and political participation were limited, and wealth directly determined political influence. Today, while legal barriers based on property no longer exist and democratic participation is broader, Parenti argues that economic power still strongly shapes political outcomes. Wealthy individuals and corporations continue to have disproportionate influence, suggesting that although the system appears more democratic now, class inequality remains embedded in political life. Thus, the structure has changed in form but not entirely in function.

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.

The framers’ fear of democracy was rooted in class conflict. Parenti and Beard both argue that the Constitution’s authors feared rule by the majority because the majority consisted largely of poorer citizens whose interests threatened elite wealth and power. Events like debtor uprisings and demands for paper money convinced elites that unchecked democracy could lead to redistribution of property, cancellation of debts, and higher taxes on the wealthy. Beard explains that the framers designed the Constitution to curb these democratic impulses by limiting direct popular control through mechanisms such as indirect elections, separation of powers, and checks and balances. Parenti reinforces that these structures were not neutral but deliberately created to protect the economic interests of the upper class while restraining the political power of the lower classes.

Based on the readings, the Constitution was written by wealthy people like landowners, merchants, bankers, and slaveholders. These were people who owned property and money, so they had power and influence. The groups that were left out were poor farmers, workers, debtors, women, enslaved people, Native Americans, and White men who didn’t own property. Basically, if you didn’t own land or wealth, you didn’t really have a say. The big difference between the two classes was ownership — one class owned property and controlled politics, while the other class mostly just worked to survive.

Early American society had a clearer class divide than today, but the system isn’t that different. Back then, owning property directly decided whether you had political power. Today, more people can vote, but money still plays a huge role in politics through lobbying, campaigns, and corporations. So even now, people with money still have way more influence than regular working people.

The people who wrote the Constitution were scared of democracy because they didn’t trust the lower and working classes. They were worried that poor people would vote in ways that hurt the wealthy, like canceling debts or taking property. Events like Shays’ Rebellion made those fears even worse. Because of that, the Constitution was set up to limit how much power regular people had and to protect the interests of the wealthy.

1. Based on the readings it seems to me that the class that wrote the Constitution was the Capitalist class and only they were allowed to participate in that process. While the working and poor class were not there during the creation of the Constitution and were prevented from contributing and benefiting from it. As Beard put it they were the disenfranchised. The Capitalist class were made up of White wealthy land owners, slave owners and merchants. While the disenfranchised were everyone else, from slaves, indentured servants, men who could not participate in government because they didn’t own land and women.
2. While there are some differences there are clearly some similarities to today. We still have we social class just more of them, including the poor and middle class. Today there are no more disenfranchised groups like slaves and more people can patriciate in government such as women and people without land. But the things that have stated the same is that its still Capitalist that have more power in government
3. The people who wrote the constitution were so afraid of democracy because they didn’t to lose their wealth and influence to the people they saw as unfit to run society. They were elitist and wanted to maintain their control over people and a way of doing that is limiting democracy and the rights of the disenfranchised.

1.) According to readings 6.1 and 6.2, the capitalist class wrote the constitution, while the working class was completely excluded from the writing of the constitution. The owning class back then viewed a direct democracy as a threat to their consolidation of wealth, so the founding fathers made things like the Electoral Collage to limit the power of the working class person. Also, the only way to be active in politics back then was to be a white man that owned land. If you own land in order to create more wealth for yourself, you are a capitalist.

2.) I believe that the class structure during this countries inception is the same as it is today. For example, the Electoral Collage still exists. Furthermore, capitalists still enforce laws and policy in order to protect and expand their own wealth. The average person is also still indebted through mortgages and student loans in order to sustain their lives, the same way a common farmer would be back during the Revolutionary era.

3.) The founding fathers were scared of democracy because it was a direct threat to their way of life. If the average person had the power to make changes in government, they wouldn’t let the capitalist class take advantage of them the way they did and still do.

1. Based on both readings, the social class who wrote the constitution was the wealthy class. The working class and poor were not allowed to participate in the process. In the first reading, it explained how “ordinary working people” could not afford to take four months off from work to go assist in writing the constitution. The first reading also explained how the Founding Fathers were wealthy and powerful men and how Madison believed wealth and power is measured by property a person owns. The second reading further explained how the slaves, indentured servants, women, and men who did not own any property ( also known as the “disenfranchised”), were not apart of the writing of the constitution. These differences also played a major role in determining one’s right to vote. Only white males who owned property were able to vote and minorities, women, indentured servants, and white males who lacked property were not allowed to vote.
2. I believe the social class structure of early United States society is the same as ours today. From then to now, there has been some improvements to create equality amongst everyone in the society, but there is still a long way to go until everybody will be treated equally. The wealthy still controls a major part of society which happens to contain majority of white males who own stocks, land or property. The working class and minorities have now earned the right to vote, but are still beneath the wealthy on the social class ladder.
3. The people who wrote the Constitution were afraid of democracy because they did not want to lose their power. They believed only the wealthy and those who inherited wealth through birth, should control the government and society. They wanted to remain wealthy by having full control over properties, currency and the overall welfare of society. They could not imagine being considered equal to the working class, indentured servants and minorities. To keep their position of power, this is another reason why they did not abolish slavery.

1.Michael Parenti argues that the Constitution was primarily written by the wealthy elite, specifically landowners, merchants, and educated professionals. This group was motivated by their interests in maintaining power and protecting their economic interests. For example, these framers were concerned about the potential for mob rule or the “tyranny of the majority,” fearing that poorer classes, such as farmers and laborers, might prioritize their own needs over the rights of property owners.

2.The excluded classes, particularly the working poor and disenfranchised groups, had little to no role in the Constitutional process. These individuals were viewed as uneducated and incapable of making informed political decisions. This exclusion was not just a matter of social status but also a reflection of the framers’ desire to create a government that would safeguard their property and privilege against the possible upheaval from less wealthy citizens.

3.The people who wrote the constitutions’ fear of democracy stemmed from their belief that a truly democratic system could threaten their power and wealth. They worried that if the general populace had more influence, they might push for reforms that could redistribute wealth or alter the existing social order. This apprehension led them to create a system that included checks and balances, aiming to limit the direct influence of the masses on governance and ensure that the interests of the elite remain protected.

1.In readings 6.1 and 6.2 the social class that wrote the Constitution congregated in Philadelphia; our founding fathers were considered “wealthy and powerful gentlemen” such as white property owners. The classes that were excluded were the poor farmers, labourers, white population that were working class, poor free holders, artisans, servants and people in debt, these groups of people were not able to participate in the process 

2. I would say yes because the early social class structure is similar to todays majority of america, todays america  is poor and not a lot of Americans can own property and as well the government is run by rich and wealthy people not as much as white males but people who are rich and wealthy who are disconnected to regular people day to day lives.

3.The people who wrote the constitution were afraid of people who were poor such as people with no properties to use democracy as a weapon since they were the majority, they were afraid that democracy would be a weapon towards the wealthy.

1. According to Charles Beard, the U.S Constitution was written by mostly wealthy, property owning men, landowners, bondholders and lawyers who had strong economic interest in creating a stable government that would protect their wealth. These men feared the “disenfranchised” majority like farmers, small laborers and people without property who were excluded from participating in the process. Beard shows that while the elite wrote the constitution, the working class had little or no voice in shaping it.
2. Social classes then and social classes now have a similar structure in some ways. Today, wealth still creates power and influence, just as it did in the 1780’s. While more people can vote and participate now, economic inequality still gives the wealthy people more political control. Back then only property owning white men had a say. Now the system is broader, but money still affects whose interests are prioritized in government.
3. The writers of the Constitution were afraid of democracy because the Founding fathers feared that too much democracy would threaten their property and power. They were scared of losing control. Parenti explains that the people who wrote the constitution didn’t want the poor majority making decisions that could affect their wealth, like canceling debts or changing property laws. They thought too much democracy meant chaos. Therefore, they built a system that gave the people some power but made sure the wealthy had the final input.