An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States

In this famous study, the author turned the hagiography of many earlier American historians on its head. Unlike those writers, who had stressed idealistic impulses as factors determining the structure of the American government, Beard questioned the Founding Fathers' motivations in drafting the Constitution and viewed the results as a product of economic self-interest. Brimming with human interest, insights, and information every student of American history will prize, this volume -- one of the most controversial books of its time -- continues to prompt new perceptions of the supreme law of the land. "A staple for history and economics collections."--Library Journal. "Replete with human interest and compact with information of importance to every student of American history or of political science." -- Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science.;Title Page; Copyright Page; PREFACE; Table of Contents; CHAPTER I -- HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION IN THE UNITED STATES; CHAPTER II -- A SURVEY OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS IN 1787; THE DISFRANCHISED; GROUPS OF REAL PROPERTY HOLDERS; GROUPS OF PERSONAL PROPERTY INTERESTS; CHAPTER III -- THE MOVEMENT FOR THE CONSTITUTION; CHAPTER IV -- PROPERTY SAFEGUARDS IN THE ELECTION OF DELEGATES; CHAPTER V -- THE ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION; CHAPTER VI -- THE CONSTITUTION AS AN ECONOMIC DOCUMENT; THE UNDERLYING POLITICAL SCIENCE OF THE CONSTITUTIONS. Title Page Copyright Page PREFACE Table of Contents CHAPTER I -- HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION IN THE UNITED STATES CHAPTER II -- A SURVEY OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS IN 1787 THE DISFRANCHISED GROUPS OF REAL PROPERTY HOLDERS GROUPS OF PERSONAL PROPERTY INTERESTS CHAPTER III -- THE MOVEMENT FOR THE CONSTITUTION CHAPTER IV -- PROPERTY SAFEGUARDS IN THE ELECTION OF DELEGATES CHAPTER V -- THE ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION CHAPTER VI -- THE CONSTITUTION AS AN ECONOMIC DOCUMENT THE UNDERLYING POLITICAL SCIENCE OF THE CONSTITUTIONS. 1. THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT OR THE BALANCE OF POWERSII. THE POWERS CONFERRED UPON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT III. RESTRICTIONS LAID UPON STATE LEGISLATURES THE ECONOMICS OF INTERNATIONAL POLITICS CHAPTER VII -- THE POLITICAL DOCTRINES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION CHAPTER VIII -- THE PROCESS OF RATIFICATION CHAPTER IX -- THE POPULAR VOTE ON THE CONSTITUTION CHAPTER X -- THE ECONOMICS OF THE VOTE ON THE CONSTITUTION MEMBERS WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF RATIFICATION OPPONENTS OF RATIFICATION CHAPTER XI -- THE ECONOMIC CONFLICT OVER RATIFICATION AS VIEWED BY CONTEMPORARIES. MARSHALL'S ANALYSIS OF THE CONFLICTTHE CONFLICT IN THE STATES CONCLUSIONS INDEX. In this famous study, the author turned the hagiography of many earlier American historians on its head. Unlike those writers, who had stressed idealistic impulses as factors determining the structure of the American government, Beard questioned the Founding Fathers' motivations in drafting the Constitution and viewed the results as a product of economic self-interest. Brimming with human interest, insights, and information every student of American history will prize, this volume — one of the most controversial books of its time — continues to prompt new perceptions of the supreme law of the land. "A staple for history and economics collections." — Library Journal. "Replete with human interest and compact with information of importance to every student of American history or of political science." — Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. This famous study? one of the most influential in the area of American economic history? brought a halt to Americans' uncritical reverence for their country's revolutionary past. Questioning the Founding Fathers' motivations in drafting the Constitution, it viewed the results as a product of economic self-interest. Perhaps the most controversial books of its time