Summary Of The People As Constituents By R. R Palmer

Charles Beard interprets the constitution of the United States in an economic manner. Beard claims certain personal interests among individuals such as money, public securities, and trade carried out the movement for the constitution. Beards hypothesis says merchants, manufacturers, shippers, and financiers would be in support of the constitution whereas non-slaveholding farmers and debtors would be in opposition of the constitution. For example, according to the article “An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States” by Charles Beard, beard states “Would it not be pretty conclusively demonstrated that our fundamental law was not the product of an abstraction known as “the whole people,” but of a group of economic interests

The ideals of an elite class that could restrict their character role in the government to strengthen their control after the rebellion. Yet, the Nervous attitude of these federalist were that a lack of regard for this government could spread throughout the society altering and bringing disregard to most of the colonies. The control of this elite class of sedulous found it unpredictable to contain this culture yet they also didn't trust the Republicans to be aware of the social order that was being presented in America at this time in history. This unevenness in the American colonies brought a bias of support to Honorable behaviors against what the Republicans were looking to

Roxi Wessel Professor Anderson Political Science 232 17 March 2023 The Federalist Fallacy: Popular Authority Under Elite Rule In the fall of 1787, three men embarked on a quest of words and wits to push for the ratification of the new United States Constitution in the state of New York. Collectively known as “Publius”, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison used their 85-essay series, entitled the Federalist, to defend the constitutional approach to government, justifying choices as broad as centralized government and as narrow as the presidential age requirement. However, one of Publius’s central arguments–that the final political authority of the United States, under the Constitution, will reside solely with the people–falls

The Shay’s Rebellion, as well as economic depression in the United States, opened doors for protests and questions regarding the effectiveness of the Articles of Confederation. The question of whether a powerful central government was necessary to provide citizens fundamental rights caused deliberation among officials. After years of debate, the Articles of Confederation was overturned, resulting in the establishment of the United States Constitution. The Constitution, perceived as a supreme document, served as a solution to the defects of the Confederation. In 1787, the same year the Constitution was ratified, an essay was written, presumably by Robert Yates.

5 Introduction The Constitutional Convention was called to order so that the Articles of Confederation could be amended. However, the Founders soon realized the Articles of Confederation provided an insufficient platform of which to erect necessary safeguards of democracy including, separation of powers, and federalism. Establishing a new constitution was not an easy feat. Many different clashing ideas would have to be weighed, measured, and agreed upon.

After a fiercely fought revolution, the newly independent American nation struggled to establish a concrete government amidst an influx of opposing ideologies. Loosely tied together by the Articles of Confederation, the thirteen sovereign states were far from united. As growing schisms in American society became apparent, an array of esteemed, prominent American men united in 1787 to form the basis of the United States government: the Constitution. Among the most eminent members of this convention were Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson. These men, held to an almost godly stature, defined the future of the nation; but were their intentions as honest as they seemed?

The American Revolution was symbolic of a breakaway from old ideals and a transition into a new form of government. After being burdened with the heavy taxes imposed by the tyrannical British monarchy, and faced with taxation without representation, the colonists broke off to institute a new set of rules. By asserting their independence from Great Britain, the colonists committed treason and fought for their land. With the Declaration of Independence, these colonies became known as the United States of America. Despite the military force of Britain, America was successful; the citizens established a republican democracy in which everyone’s ideas could be represented in government.

For example, the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 mentions that, “the commonwealth or state of Pennsylvania shall be governed hereafter by an assembly of the representatives of the freeman of the same, and a president and council”. As previously stated, the idea of the “common people” in positions of power within the government flabbergasted the gentry and other members of the wealthy elite. Most argued that the common people were not educated in the affairs of politics. Therefore giving them the right to elect their own people in Congress would be catastrophic to the state. Similarly, many gentry felt that the common people “are more easily led by specious appearances” (Governor Morris, to Thomas Penn).

On one hand the fledgling government strived to apply considerably fair republican and Enlightenment ideas to the new system. Through this strong belief in the natural rights of life, liberty, and property, the colonists were able to unite and connect under one American identity. No longer did they identify with the despicable British, the colonists were now free, American men ready to reap , as stated in Document B, “the sweets of independence.” People were ready for the new promise of equality, with no all-powerful aristocracy or church to govern the day to day lives of the common. For example, Document D describes the freedom of religion in Virginia and thus showing a moderate progression toward the separation of church and state.

Holton addressed were all valid reasons to support his argument that the unruly Americans led to the origins of the Constitution. The strongest argument made by Mr. Holton was the transgressions that the Founding Fathers laid at the feet of the thirteen state legislatures. He stated that the most glaringly representative had shown excessive indulgence to debtors and taxpayers, in which the state legislature had refused to force farmers to pay what they owed (page 92). These policies adopted by the state legislatures in the 1780s proved that ordinary Americans were not entirely capable of ruling themselves (page 96). “Honesty Is the Best Policy” (1786) “Curtis” written by an anonymous author that reads as if it was written by one of the Founding Fathers’.

Howe, Jr. is correct, Dr. Wood does provide a deeper and accurate understanding of the principles embodied in the U.S. constitution, the nature of American politics, and the structure of American government – both state and federal – and most importantly, the relationship between the two. Furthermore, he lays down the groundwork on the real meaning of how our government came to be and who it was meant to serve, and what the American Revolution meant for our political system. The American Revolution was one of the most important events in American history. It not only created the U.S. Government and our Institutions, most importantly, it created our ideals and everything we believe as Americans. Again, the revolution WAS transformative.

Redmond Peiro Ms. Smith Maryland State Constitution Paper 9 February, 2016 In the months preceding the American Revolution, a convention was held in Annapolis between a number of Maryland’s most powerful men in which to discuss the development of a new government. In addition to this, they sent representatives to the Continental Congress to finalize pre-war preparations. On July 3, 1776 the convention agreed that a new group was to be created to draw up their first state constitution as the old ad hoc government structure was considered inadequate. “That all government of right originates from the people, is founded in compact only, and instituted solely for the good of the whole.”

In document D Byles states,” They call me a brainless Tory; but tell me, my young friend, which is better, to be ruled by one tyrant three thousand miles away, or by three thousand tyrants not a mile away” This shows that some colonists still considered themselves as English, and were against independence. Document F also supports this claim,” We [saw] a Set of men… under the Auspices of the english Government; & protected by it… but we [saw] them also run mad with too much Happiness & burst into an open rebellion…” As you can see many colonists called for rebellion but unity was never one hundred percent throughout the colonies, some were patriots while others remained loyal to the crown. Many revolutions are caused to a buildup of mistrust, exploitation and an unjust government, the American Revolution was an example of this. Once the revolution began there was no stopping it. Document E states, “the arms we have been compelled by our enemies to assume, we will… being with one mind resolved to die freemen, rather than live [like] slaves.”

The background of “Unruly Americans: and the origins of the Constitution” by Woody Holton is how the American society was taught to believe that the US Constitution was created to encourage democracy and protect civil rights. However, Holton offers a different view. He even goes to the extent of stating that, in 1776 the 13 colonies of North America left the Empire of Britain and 55 of the world’s most notable men known as the Founding Fathers work on the Constitution in Philadelphia as it became the most powerful and wealthiest state in 1787. The Framers’ gathered 1787 and they only could help citizens partially, yet their motives were never revealed. The purpose of the Constitution was to help America more attractive to investors.

1. This document was recorded and written during the Virginia Convention of 1788. In this recording of the Virginia Convention, the opposing side against the ratification of the constitution presented its arguments of why the new constitution should not be ratified. The writers or authors of this document are Patrick Henry, George Mason and an unknown recorder. Patrick Henry was born on May 29th, 1736.