Liberty, Property, and the Foundations of the American Constitution (SUNY series in The Constitution and Economic Rights)

Here is what the Framers of the Constitution thought about economic rights. To the current debate over constitutional interpretation, this book adds a dispassionate examination of our beginnings. It focuses on the philosophical, political, and social currents that influenced the thought and behavior of the Framers. What was the relationship between property rights and liberty? How important to the Framers was the protection of economic liberties? In what ways does the Constitution protect these liberties? Was the Constitution a document forged with the intent of securing what would later be called a capitalist system? Or were the Framers primarily concerned with promoting a society based upon civic virtue? These are a few of the major themes that the authors of this volume address. Cover Title: Liberty, Property & The Foundations Of The American Constitution. Includes Bibliographies And Index. Preface / Gordon S. Wood -- The Rights Of Property, And The Property In Rights; The Problematic Nature Of 'property' In The Political Thought Of The Founders And The Early Republic / Michael Kammen -- Moral Philosophy And The Framing Of The Constitution / Andrew J. Reck -- The Great Fence To Liberty: The Right To Property In The American Founding / Edward J. Erler -- Jefferson And Property Rights / Jean Yarbrough -- Republicanism Commerce, And Private Rights: James Madison's Path To The Constitutional Convention Of 1787 / Charles F. Hobson -- One People As To Commercial Objects / Bernard H. Siegan -- The Economic Policy Of The Constitution / William Letwin -- Contract Rights And Property Rights: A Case Study In The Relationship Between Individual Liberties And Constitutional Structure / Michael W. Mcconnell. Edited By Ellen Frankel Paul And Howard Dickman. Cover Title: Liberty, Property & The Foundations Of The American Constitution. Includes Bibliographies And Index. Here is what the Framers of the Constitution thought about economic rights. To the current debate over constitutional interpretation, this book adds a dispassionate examination of our beginnings. It focuses on the philosophical, political, and social currents that influenced the thought and behavior of the Framers.What was the relationship between property rights and liberty? How important to the Framers was the protection of economic liberties? In what ways does the Constitution protect these liberties? Was the Constitution a document forged with the intent of securing what would later be called a capitalist system? Or were the Framers primarily concerned with promoting a society based upon civic virtue? These are a few of the major themes that the authors of this volume address.Ellen Frankel Paul is Deputy Director of the Social Philosophy and Policy Center and Professor of Political Science at Bowling Green State University. Howard Dickman is a Research Associate at the Social Philosophy and Policy Center at Bowling Green State University.