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An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States Paperback – September 12, 2013

by Charles Austin Beard (Author)

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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V THE ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION Having shown that four groups of property rights were adversely affected by the government under the Articles of Confederation, and that economic motives were behind the movement for a reconstruction of the system, it is now necessary to inquire whether the members of the Convention which drafted the Constitution represented in their own property affiliations any or all of these groups. In other words, did the men who formulated the fundamental law of the land possess the kinds of property which were immediately and directly increased in value or made more secure by the results of their labors at Philadelphia? Did they have money at interest? Did they own public securities? Did they hold western lands for appreciation? Were they interested in shipping and manufactures? The purpose of such an inquiry is not, of course, to show that the Constitution was made for the personal benefit of the members of the Convention. Far from it. Neither is it of any moment to discover how many hundred thousand dollars accrued to them as a result of the foundation of the new government. The only point here considered is: Did they represent distinct groups whose economic interests they understood and felt in concrete, definite form through their own personal experience with identical property rights, or were they working merely under the guidance of abstract principles of political science? Unfortunately, the materials for such a study are very scanty, because the average biographer usually considers as negligible the processes by which his hero gained his livelihood. The pages which follow are, therefore, more an evidence of what ought to be done than a record of results actually...

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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In this 1913 volume, Beard, the founder of the New School for Social Research, contends that the Founding Fathers included a clear strategy for Colonial economics in the writing of the Constitution. A staple for history and economics collections. (Classic Returns, LJ 11/1/98)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Review

"Here again is the original constitutional skeptic to remind Americans that our republic's authors had not only intellects but interests. Charles Beard set out to jolt his contemporaries out of their pious admiration of the constitution's framers. His economic interpretation remains a lively, surprisingly humorous and sharp-witted analysis of the nation's beginnings. Reading it today, the book aims a keen and pointed thrust at the originalism of our own age." (Professor Eric Rauchway, University of California Davis Department of History)

"One hundred years after it first appeared, Charles Beard's An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution still commands our attention as a classic of historical scholarship -- not because every view Beard put forward has stood the test of time but because the questions he raised about the intersections of economic and political power are just as relevant today as when he wrote." (Professor Eric Foner, Columbia University Department of History)

"This is the book that started us all on the journey to understanding the complex motives and conflicting interests that shaped our constitution. 100 years after its publication, it still has the power to excite and exasperate, to stir fierce debate and to inspire new interpretations." (Carol Berkin, Presidential Professor of History, Emerita, Baruch College & The Graduate Center, CUNY) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

Paperback: 102 pages
Publisher: TheClassics.us (September 12, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1230283412
ISBN-13: 978-1230283418
Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.2 x 9.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,998,062 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #557 in Books > Business & Money > Economics > Comparative
- #3466 in Books > Law > Rules & Procedures > Civil Procedure
- #3486 in Books > History > Historical Study & Educational Resources > Historiography

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Top Customer Reviews

A Good Place to Begin Thinking About What it Means to be an American

By Sam Dennis on February 22, 2006

Format: Paperback

Jumping to the end of Charles Beard's book, his conclusions state the following:

i) The US constitution was enacted to protect the interests of: a) the moneyed classes (the rich), b) the bond and stock holding classes (the rich speculators), c) the manufacturing interests (rich capitalists), and trade and shipping interests (the rich capitalist speculators).

ii) The constitution was the result of an elite group of men representing the aforementioned interests.

iii) The constitutional convention held in Philadelphia was organized undemocratically by the aforementioned elite group of men to secure the aforementioned interests.

iv) Those not holding the aforementioned interests (the poor) were excluded from participation in the constitutional process.

v) Those participating in the Philadelphia convention personally benefited from the outcome of that convention (the constitution).

vi) The US constitution is a document protecting private property rights over that of a democratic people and/or its government.

vii) These assertions are on record as evidenced by the property and monetary interests of those who proposed and passed the US constitution.

viii) In the ratification of the US constitution, 3/4 of the qualified voters were excluded by some means or another, aiding the 1/4 who benefited from the passage of the constitution.

ix) The ratification of the US constitution was further narrowed down to where only 1/6 of the qualified voters participated in its passing.

x) Therefore, the majority of qualified voters did not participate in the ratification of the US constitution.Read more ›

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Clear and concise, a must for all economic history scholars.

By A Customer on October 15, 1999

Format: Paperback

Beard's origional thesis form 1913 remains that the forming of the United States Constitution was an effort by the economic well-to-do of the newly formed American social class to establish a government that would protect their interests and raise the value of the government's obligations in their possessions. Beard's goal is simply to re-establish the idea of the aforementioned economic interests as the primary, not secondary cause of the U. S. Constitution. Through a topical analysis of interests, that seem contrary to the work of his historical mentors, Beard weaves his interpretation of the economic history. Throughout his book Beard consistantly refers to his work as fragmentary, but it appears extensively researched through primary documents such as the Federalist Papers, early Treasury Department records, and Madison's convension notes. Beard does an excellent job in presenting all necessary facts for the reader to follow his argument. Little, if any information is left to the supposition of the reader. Whereas the work can be dry at times, it does provide scholars with alternative, not necessarily new, interpretations of early American historical events.

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Reviewing the Founding Fathers

By Acute Observer on October 10, 2009

Format: Paperback

This book was first issued in 1913 during the Progressive Party era. Theodore Roosevelt questioned the power of the judiciary to declare laws unconstitutional and suggested the people should have the right to recall that decision (`Introduction to the 1935 Edition'). [Abraham Lincoln had similar concerns.] James Madison wrote Federalist Number 10 to speak on how politics are based on economic interests. In the late 19th century historian talked about "state's rights" or "a strong central government". Charles A. Beard investigated the original sources and found the discussions over economic interests. His book was praised by Progressives and condemned by conservative Republicans. Beard just gathered the facts in an impartial manner. This is not a biased outlook (p.xlvx). The idea of economics affecting politics is in Aristotle's writings and the Federalist paper No. 10. You can decide for yourself what part economics plays in "protective tariffs, foreign trade, transportation, industry, commerce, labor, agriculture, and the nature of the Constitution itself" (p.xlix)! [Your local newspaper may report on zoning changes but not who benefits from them.] Ignoring economic issues in history leads to confusion (p.lii).

Law is primarily concerned with the ownership of property and the way it is passed from one person to another. Different kinds of property creates different classes with different views (Chapter I). Investigating the economic interests of the supporters and opponents of the Federal Constitution will test Beard's theory (p.17). Chapter II lists the difficulties in learning about the state and continental public securities and their owners, and other facts. Merchants and manufacturers wanted a protective tariff.Read more ›

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A must read, but I disagree

By S. Gurgel on June 24, 2011

Students of the Constitutional Era should own a copy of this book. It has influenced scores of historians since and is the cornerstone of economic, progressive, and neoprogressive history.

Personally, I disagree with Beard that economic motivations supersede ideological ones. Anyone who reads this book needs to also pick up a book by Bernard Bailyn and/or Gordon Wood. I feel that some of Beard's positions are tenable, but to look at history from a purely economic standpoint turns you into what I like to call a "historian of robots." These scholars forget that people are complex and capable of great ideas, and not always slaves to the whims of economic decisions. Also, they forget that man-made ideas like wealth and class are very ambiguous. Keep this in mind as you read Beard or related thinkers. Please comment for further discussion.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Poor quality Kindle edition

The book itself is an intriguing look at the Constitution as well as the early 20th century view of the body politic. Read more

Published 2 months ago by DK

I enjoyed the book

The book arrived in the condition listed, and it was delivered on time. I enjoyed the book, and I would definitely recommend this book.

Published 7 months ago by Maria O

Radical yet percipient

Beard argues that the structure of the Constitution of the United States was motivated primarily by the personal financial interests of the Founding Fathers. Read more

Published 9 months ago by HH

Excellent. However not for the blind American Exceptionalism fanatic...

Excellent. However not for the blind American Exceptionalism fanatic who does not accept economic facts that takes the patriotism edge off the historic inculcation of our society... Read more

Published 14 months ago by caseyat bat

This is a excellent book to consider if you desire to have a ...

This is a excellent book to consider if you desire to have a greater knowledge of the details of the members, at least those who were allowed to participate, at the Continental... Read more

Published 17 months ago by T. Donoghue

Five Stars

Super

Published 18 months ago by Bob Gibson

A must read for those who want to know the ...

A must read for those who want to know the truth about why the constitution was implemented in this country.

Published 21 months ago by patfitz

A pioneering, eye-opening book

One of the most enlightening books about "American Exceptionalism", Economic Interpretation attacks the basic premise that the Revolution was noble, the Constitution an... Read more

Published 21 months ago by James Kenney

Reviewing the Founding Fathers

An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution

This book was first issued in 1913 during the Progressive Party era. Read more

Published 23 months ago by Acute Observer

Five Stars

Essential reading for anyone who would begin to understand what one of our founding documents is. And isn't.

Published 24 months ago by Michel Stone