1. What does “disenfranchised” mean?

The word disenfranchised means not having the right to vote or take part in government. These people had no voice in making laws because they were not allowed to vote, usually since they didn’t own property or enough money.

2. Who were the “Disenfranchised”?

The disenfranchised were poor or working people in early America. They included farmers, workers, and small shopkeepers who had to work hard to live. They did not own land, big businesses, or slaves. Beard is talking about the working class — everyday people who had little money and no power in government.

3. Which class did the “real property holders” and those in “manufacturing, shipping, and personal securities” belong to?

These people were rich and powerful. They owned land, businesses, ships, and investments that made them money. They were part of the upper class or wealthy class. Beard says they helped write the Constitution to protect their money and property from being taken or changed by poorer people.

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.

1. The word disenfranchised means that a person’s worth has either been called into question or revoked entirely.
2. The disenfranchised were anyone who was not a while male that were able to vote.
   • Common areas that these people had in their lives were that they were not able to speak for or represent themselves in times that mattered, like voting.
   • The social group that falls into this is today would be called the working/labor group.
3. The “real” property holders fell into were the farmers that owned the land that they tilled.
   • When the change of moving towards paper, the people who now own physical assets. This is in regards to the fact that you can actually see the dirt.

1. To be able to vote, a person had to be a property-owning (wealthy) White male.
2. Most people belonged to the labor or working class of that time.
3. Madison’s goal in writing Federalist No. 10 was to prevent true power from being transferred to the people. In doing so, he made sure that the power to create change in this country stayed with those of affluent means.
4. The Framers were afraid of a true democracy because that would mean that the power of those they thought were less than had the same level of authority as them. Being wealthy property owners made them think that they knew what was best for the people of that time. If power over decision making in the country went to the average man then opinions on what should be done to better it would be so scattered that nothing but harm would come to it.
5. Some reasons why the slave trade was never abolished were that the people who profited from it were the ones who wrote the rules and the rights. Another being that anyone who was truly affected, be it in all the horrid ways we know today, did not have a say in any matter that involved them. Lastly, the men who owned these slaves were given more representation in the House of Representatives, which gave states with slaves more sway over what was passed in the House

1.   Liberals vs. Socialists on Social Class

The reading says liberals usually think of class as an identity, like race or gender. For example, they might say someone is “middle class” just to describe their lifestyle. Socialists see class differently—they look at who owns wealth and who must work for wages. I relate to this more because, like most people in my community, I depend on wages to pay bills and survive. That makes the socialist view feel closer to my reality.

2.Class vs. Social Hierarchies

Page 5 explains that class is not just a ranking system like a hierarchy. A hierarchy puts people in order, like doctors above janitors, but class is about who owns resources and who works for them. It also involves conflict, like when workers at Amazon go on strike for better pay. I can relate to this because in my neighborhood most people work long hours but still struggle with basic needs. That shows me class is about struggle, not just social status.

3. Implications of the Socialist View

The reading says the socialist view of class changes politics by focusing on collective struggle and worker solidarity. Real change means challenging the wealthy class, not just accepting small reforms like a small wage increase. A good example is union efforts at Starbucks, where workers are pushing for fair treatment together. I can relate to this because I see how hard-working families, including my own, do not move up easily even when we put in effort. That makes me believe solidarity is important for real fairness.