Sunday, October 21, 2007

Were the Founding Fathers Democratic Reformers?

I would have to say No, the Founding Fathers were not democratic at all. I agree with Charles Beard's opinion and view on the issues. The Founding Fathers in fact, were not wise and were just trying to keep a balance among the dominant forces. The fifty-five men who gathered in Philadelphia to discuss the Constitution were mostly lawyers, or men of wealth, had money loaned out at interest, and many held government bonds. However, four groups were not represented in the Constitutional Convention: slaves, indentured servants, women, and men without property. The Constitution was guarded as to not including the interests of these groups. The Founding Fathers didn't want an equal balance between slaves and masters, propertyless and property holders, Indians and white. Charles beard warned us that governments, including the one for the U.S., are neutral and that they represent the dominant economic interests and that their constitutions are intended to serve these interests in which they failed to do. The problem of democracy was in fact the division of society into rich and poor.

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