1. Based on the readings, the social class that wrote the Constitution was the property-owning elite, including wealthy merchants, slaveholding planters, and urban businessmen. This class had voting rights, economic power, and political influence. For example, men like Hamilton of New York and Robert Morris of Philadelphia represented interests in banking, shipping, and manufacturing. The class that was excluded from writing the Constitution included slaves, indentured servants, women, and most poor white men who did not meet property qualifications. These groups could not vote and had no political voice. For instance, small farmers in debt were pushing for laws like paper money and debt relief, which threatened the interests of the elite.

2. I think the social class structure back in early U.S. history was definitely different from what we have today, but there are still some similarities. In 1787, the people who wrote the Constitution were mostly wealthy landowners, merchants, and slaveholders. They had power because they owned property and had money. Meanwhile, huge groups of people like women, enslaved people, poor farmers, and even some working men were completely left out of the process. They didn’t have a voice at all. Pretty much everyone can vote now, and we have laws that are supposed to protect equality. But at the same time, money still plays a big role in politics. Rich people and big businesses still have a lot of influence through lobbying and campaign funding. So while more people are included today, class still affects who really gets heard, kind of like it did back then just in a different way.

3. The people who wrote the Constitution were afraid of full democracy because they were mostly from the upper social classes wealthy landowners, merchants, and slaveholders who wanted to protect their property and power. They worried that if too much power was given to the general population, especially the working class and poor farmers, those groups might vote for laws that took away property or forgave debts.

1. The constitution was written by those who owned land, invested in manufacturing, loaned money, etc.– it was written by the wealthy elite. There were many people of good standing, some notable figures being George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Gouverneur Morris; they all had favorable job positions such as merchants, slaveholders, and creditors. In Charles Beard’s text, he refers to people with land and slaves as those who had “real property,” and people with money and investments as this with “personal property.” Meanwhile, Michael Parenti describes them as “gentlemen” or the “Founding Fathers” who were more interested in protecting wealth than expanding democracy. Those completely excluded from participating–the voiceless class–were free Black people, enslaved people, women, indentured servants, poor white farmers, and men without property. Parenti highlights that only about 10% of the population could vote, and even fewer could hold office due to the strict property qualifications. An example being that poor farmers, especially those involved in Shays’ Rebellion, were cursed by taxes and debt. Beard mentioned that those unable to participate had no voting rights and they were not represented in the Constitutional Convention. An example being that small farmers were a large debtor class because they were usually squatters or forced to buy land from speculators.
2. The social class structure of early United States society definitely has its similarities in today’s society, but there are also some major differences. In the early U.S. society, those who had power and voice was decided by wealth and land ownership. While wealth still strongly influences politics today, legal voting rights are more widely accepted. Similar to the early U.S., those who control the media, industries, and capital have the most political influence. Today, more people can vote, but the systemic inequality still creates obstacles to real participation. An example being that a billionaire can hold major influence in politics even if they are not running for office, they can do so by funding politicians. The class divide between the wealthy elite and working class still exists, it’s just evolved.
3. People who wrote the Constitution were afraid of democracy because they feared the majority, which was the working poor. They feared that they would use democracy to challenge their wealth and power. For example, in James Madison’s “Federalist #10”, he states that the non-wealthy citizens might start to demand things like debt forgiveness or the redistribution of property, which was a seen as a threat to elite interests. Beard also reveals that creditors, merchants, and landowners wanted a government that would block any legislation that helped debtors. The founders worked to build a system that looked democratic, but was designed to limit the majority faction because they feared if the poor people had power they would vote to take wealth from the rich.

1.The Constitution was written by rich people with property. Poor people without property were kept out of the process. The writers were merchants, big landowners, slaveholders, and people who lent money. They owned most of the land and businesses. For example, South Carolina state senators had to own property worth at least $7000. New Jersey land makers needed $1000 in property. In New York, less than twelve people owned three-fourths of all the land by 1700. The excluded group was much larger. It included slaves, servants, women, Native Americans, and white men without enough property. This was about 90%of all adults. A French observer said the wealthy”gentlemen” were scared that the people would take away their money and property. so they wanted a stronger government to protect what they owned.

2.The class system in the past was very different from today.In 1787, there were basically two groups; people who owned property and people who didn’t. The law stopped most people from voting if they didn’t own enough property. Today’s class system is more complicated. It’s based on how much money people make, their education, and their jobs. It’s not just about owning property. We still have rich and poor people today. But we don’t have laws that stop whole groups of people from voting based on property. We also have a big middle class that didn’t exist at that time.

3.The framers were scared of democracy because they thought poor people would use their votes to take money from the rich. Madison worried about the majority faction of common people. He thought they might want paper money or abolition of debts or equal division of property. Hamilton said the people are turbulent and changing. He believed society splits into the few and the many, meaning the rich and masses. The framers built the Constitution to stop this. They added checks and balances. They made representation indirect. They gave minorities ways to block the majority. All of this was designed to stop poor people from using democracy to challenge rich people’s money and power.

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.

• Well the framers were from the owning class of the agrarian Society – those who owned land and or other property (people).  The readings 6.1 and 6.2 made the argument that the framers made the constitution for the purpose of protecting not only the rights of the upper class of owners but as well the property they owned.  Through measures such as a representative government or a Republic which allowed only certain people to make the laws of the land.  They also made only a few allowed to vote, those with property above a certain amount as well as free of debt.  They were wary about a full democracy saying in reading 6.1 on page 8, “The framers were of the opinion that democracy (rule by the common people) was“the worst of all political evils,”” Those not allowed to vote where woman, slaves, free blacks, indentured servants, and poor whites.  

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

• I would say it is very similar.  Today we are not in an aquarium society today most people would equate our current state to a technocrat oligarchy.  It is no longer the land owners who hold all the power – which they still do but they are not the ones who have consolidated all of the power.  Those controlling the internet and the technology of today are the ones in power.  But the structure is very similar, those who have power put those in the position to rule and they intern fill the needs of the technocrat oligarchic class.   So in conclusion to quote the politically charged motion picture “The Interview” Dave Skylark says to the North Koreans when first arriving in Pyongyang  “We Are Same-Same, But Different” 

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.

• Given that the rich property – land, means of production, and slavery – owners wrote the constitution to protect their interests, they were afraid of full democracy for a few reasons but a quote from reading 6.1 on page 8 sums it up pretty well “According to Alexan- der Hamilton,“all communities divide themselves into the few and the many. The first are the rich and the wellborn, the other the mass of the people.… The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right.”” Many in attendance of the convention were against giving full voting power to the people “George Washington… urged the delegates not to produce a document merely to“please the people.”” I think they were so afraid of democracy because it would give the people the power to change the  socioeconomic positions of those who are in charge so to keep power, they limited the voting ability of the mass population.  Making our country a representative democracy, and not full democracy would give the power to the hands of those who have the ability to help the politicians get elected.  Intern –  like I’ve said previously –  those that are voted in would help line the pockets of their rich supporting class.  The same system we have today. 

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