The question of whether or not the American Constitution and the system of government were set up by the elites for the elites concerns American historians. There are arguments for and against the statement that the Constitution and the regime were works of equality and democracy. This paper provides evidence to support Charles Beard’s words that the two representatives of the American history were developed by people of wealth and privilege.
To prove Charles Beard’s statement, it is necessary to examine certain groups of people who influenced the creation of the American Constitution. The Constitutional Convention was represented by those who had senior positions in society; slaves, women, indentured servants, and men without property could not express an opinion during the event (Zinn, 2013). It shows the Constitution represented only men who had a pecuniary interest in this matter.
Another point confirming Charles Beard’s view is that the ratification of the Constitution led to a rebellion of the lower classes. In 1780, members of the lower social strata opposed the government and declared that they were abused, obliged to work more, and did not have money to pay debts (Zinn, 2013). The Constitution raised resentment of men who did not belong to the elites and whose life the document did not improve.
The Constitution proclaims that people are free and equal and have the right to fight for their liberty. In the 1780s, the lower classes were defending their rights, but the statesman Samuel Adams announced that those who dared to fight against the laws of the legislature should suffer death. Moreover, slavery existed at the time, and only three percent of American society were wealthy, thus, not all men were born free and equal (Zinn, 2013). This fact is another confirmation that the Constitution and the government were not working for the benefit of farmers or slaves.
There are debates about whether or not the policy was shaped by the elites for the elites. Most elites did not want equality between the lower classes and the upper classes; workers and men without property wished for justice and rights. History consists of events suggesting the American Constitution and this system of government were set up by people who did not consider opinions of the poor, thus, there is truth in Charles Beard’s statement.
Reference
Zinn, H. (2013). A people’s history of the United States. In L. Madaras & J. M. SoRelle (Eds.), Taking sides: Clashing views in United States history. The colonial period to reconstruction (Vol. 1) (15th ed, pp. 150-160). McGraw-Hill.