Charles Beard Article Review Essay Example
Charles Beard Article Review Essay Example

Charles Beard Article Review Essay Example

Available Only on StudyHippo
  • Pages: 2 (318 words)
  • Published: November 18, 2017
  • Type: Article
View Entire Sample
Text preview

Charles Beard's 'Framing the Constitution' offers a strong viewpoint on the Constitution and its framers. According to Beard, the document was penned by wealthy landowners, merchants, creditors, bondholders, and lawyers who sought to safeguard their assets. He argues that the framers opposed majority rule to prevent the masses from revolting against them. Despite being at odds with contemporary perspectives, his analysis challenges conventional notions of the Constitution's origins.

The Constitution's creators were skilled proponents of self-rule and established a groundbreaking structure of federalism in a republic. Although presently, only a minority advocate for personal freedom and the collective benefit as the foundation for federal government operations. During its formation, two opposing groups with divergent objectives existed: The "Radicals" or Revolutionaries, including Thomas Jefferson, Sam Adams, and Patrick Henry who emphasized a robust and c

...

ompetent administrative system.

The group that supported Liberty and the Bill of Rights was distinct from the Federalists, which comprised Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. The latter prioritized power, control, and property rights protection in society with a preference for a centralized government structure akin to Britain's current system to secure their wealth. The contributions of both groups ensured the Constitution's longevity of over two centuries. In my view, the authors of the Constitution had a discernible Marxist approach, especially among the Federalists.

In his article, Beard examines the extent to which the US Constitution differs from the British parliamentary system and ensures universal suffrage. Although it includes elements of British politics such as the House of Representatives, it also creates a novel form of governance known as a democratic republic that employs checks and balances to avoid one branch dominating. Whil

View entire sample
Join StudyHippo to see entire essay

some argue that these provisions were added to safeguard the riches and social standing of those in power, I maintain that they contributed to fashioning an authentically equitable government that embodies "liberty and justice for all".

Get an explanation on any task
Get unstuck with the help of our AI assistant in seconds
New