Thursday, September 22, 2011

A people's history of the United States Analysis

The article states that the founding fathers although believed by many to be wise and just men with the intention of creating a form of government that represents the people were actually motivated by hidden agendas.  It states that the true reason the founding fathers created a strong, centralized government was to keep the wealth in the hands of the wealthy and the property holders. Also it states that one of the motives in creating a strong government was to protect American businesses by placing tariffs on business trade and foreign merchandise.  The article also noted that the lines "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" which appeared in the Declaration of Independence was changed in the Constitution to "life, liberty, and property" historians have said that this is evidence that the members of the convention were intent on keeping the wealthy class distinct from the poor.  One of the historians also says that certain parts of the Constitution are flexible and other sections are not, the example they give is how John Adams' administration created the sedition act which prevented people from talking bad against the government this appears to be in violation of the first amendment whereas the amendment about taxing was enforced by military might during the Whiskey Rebellion, this historian is saying that the government chooses which amendments should be enforced. 

1. Didn't Washington lead troops against the Whiskey Rebellion and not Hamilton?
2. Why did some founding fathers who held property refuse to ratify the Constitution if it was apparently made to protect the wealthy? 

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