Simone Lawson
The founding fathers of the US Constitution were some of the wealthiest people in the colonies when they drafted and signed the document. They were wary of centralized power and loyal to their states, creating a powerful central government. They did not want a direct democracy, where all Americans could vote on all issues, instead, they expected the common people, the poor and uneducated, to participate indirectly through local government. The founding fathers were influenced by the Enlightenment, with the US Constitution stemming from prominent Enlightenment philosophers, such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Montesquieu. They also drew inspiration from the Magna Carta, traditional rights reserved for Englishmen, and Ancient Republican Rome.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Aversion to centralized power | Loyal to their states |
| Fear of collapse without a strong central government | Powerful central government |
| Belief in the need for a fair and balanced government | Free and fair elections |
| Belief in the need for a government that could manage trade, print currency, and pass and enforce laws | Peaceful transition of power |
| Belief in the need for a government that could collect taxes and unite the country | Rule of law |
| Belief in the need for a government that could regulate commerce | Separation of powers |
| Belief in the need for a government that could request funds from the states | Freedom of religion |
| Belief in the need for a process to change or amend the Constitution | Freedom of speech |
| Belief in the need for a representative democracy | Right to a jury trial |
| Belief in the need for a government that could manage disputes over territory, war pensions, and trade | Right to keep and bear arms |
| Belief in the need for a limited democracy | Limited citizenship rights |
| Belief in the need for a government that could manage populism and mob rule | Elections restricted to people of wealth and education |
| Belief in the need for a government that could manage the interests of the common man and be more accommodating to wealthy, educated business-interest types | Popular sovereignty |
| Belief in the need for a government that could manage the number of members of the House of Representatives | Majority control |
| Influence of Enlightenment thinkers and philosophers | Right to popular participation in politics |
| Influence of natural rights perspective | Right to protest |
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What You'll Learn
The Founding Fathers' vision for democracy
The Founding Fathers of the United States Constitution were among the wealthiest people in the colonies when they drafted and signed the document. They envisioned a future where only people of wealth and education could vote, while the common people, the poor and uneducated, would participate indirectly through local government and protest actions. They were wary of centralised power and loyal to their states, creating a powerful central government that could override state legislatures.
The Founding Fathers were eager to shed the monarchical system that had ruled for hundreds of years, but they were also uncomfortable with democracy, which they saw as "mob rule". They did not want a direct democracy, and instead, they opted for a representative democracy, where the right of election is secured and regulated, and the legislative, executive, and judiciary authorities are vested in select persons chosen by the people. Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers, stated:
> "But a representative democracy, where the right of election is well secured and regulated & the exercise of the legislative, executive and judiciary authorities, is vested in select persons, chosen really and not nominally by the people, will in my opinion be most likely to be happy, regular and durable."
The Founding Fathers were influenced by Enlightenment thinkers and philosophers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Montesquieu. They believed in "natural rights", which form the basis for modern human rights, and the doctrine of separation of powers. They also included a way to change the Constitution through amendments, recognising that it should be able to change and grow over time.
In summary, the Founding Fathers' vision for democracy was a representative democracy with limited citizenship rights, where the wealthy and educated held political power, and the potential for "mob rule" by the masses was mitigated through constraints in the Constitution.
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The influence of Enlightenment philosophers
The Founding Fathers' engagement with Enlightenment ideas shaped the ideological and structural framework of American governance. The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights embody the Enlightenment quest for reason, justice, and the intrinsic rights of individuals.
The Founding Fathers were influenced by Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Montesquieu. Locke, often regarded as the father of modern republican government, proposed the theory of natural rights, arguing that every individual is entitled to life, liberty, and property. These principles were woven into the Declaration of Independence, which asserted that governments derive "their just powers from the consent of the governed," reflecting Locke's philosophy. Similarly, Rousseau's ideas about direct democracy and the importance of the collective will and civic freedom influenced American political ideology. He proposed that true political authority lies with the people and that the government should reflect the general will. While the Founding Fathers did not fully embrace direct democracy, they incorporated Rousseau's concepts into their framework, emphasizing a government that serves its citizens. Montesquieu's refinement of the concept of mixed government, which combines elements of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy, influenced the creation of a bicameral legislature in the U.S. Constitution.
The influence of these Enlightenment philosophers contributed to the Founding Fathers' commitment to principles such as liberty and equality, shaping a resilient republic that continues to define American democracy. Their ideas challenged traditional monarchical systems and promoted the notion of inherent rights derived from nature rather than granted by monarchs. The Founding Fathers' interpretation of these Enlightenment ideals led them to create a powerful central government with checks and balances, reflecting their concerns about centralized power and their loyalty to their states.
It is worth noting that the Founding Fathers' understanding of democracy differed from the modern conception. They were wary of direct democracy and sought to limit citizenship rights, expressing fears of "mob rule" and the potential election of demagogues. They envisioned a representative democracy with constraints on direct participation, such as the Electoral College and the original selection of senators by state legislatures.
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The Articles of Confederation
Despite the Articles of Confederation being a significant step towards establishing a national government, they were ultimately replaced by the current US Constitution in 1789. The Founding Fathers, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, recognized the limitations of the Articles and worked towards revising them to create a more robust central government. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, resulting in the drafting of a new Constitution that addressed the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation.
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The role of the President
The US Constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, was intended by its authors to strike a balance between a monarchical system and a democracy. The Founding Fathers, including George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, were wary of centralized power and loyal to their states. They crafted a powerful central government, but one that was a republic, not a direct democracy.
The President of the United States is the head of the executive branch of this federal government. The Constitution sets out the role of the President, including the powers, duties, and limitations of the office. The President is elected to serve a four-year term and can receive compensation for their services, which cannot be increased or decreased during their elected term.
The President has the power to make treaties, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and to appoint ambassadors, ministers, judges, and other officers of the United States. The President can fill vacancies during the recess of the Senate, but these appointments expire at the end of the Senate's next session. The President also has a role in foreign policy, as they can send and receive ambassadors.
Additionally, the President is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. This role includes the power to declare war, use military force, and direct the military strategy. In the case of the President's removal from office, death, resignation, or inability to discharge their powers and duties, the Vice President assumes the role of President.
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The right to change or amend the Constitution
The Founding Fathers of the United States Constitution were among the wealthiest people in the colonies when they drafted and signed the document. They were wary of centralised power and loyal to their states, creating a powerful central government. They were also wary of democracy, which they saw as "mob rule", and believed that the vote ought to be reserved for people of wealth and education.
The Founding Fathers did write in a process for changing or amending the Constitution, and they availed themselves of that process with the ratification of the 12th Amendment in 1804, which established separate Electoral College votes. Since then, the Constitution has been amended 27 times, including the first 10 amendments adopted four years after the Constitution was drafted, in 1791, as the Bill of Rights.
Amendments have had a major impact on the rights of citizens, such as giving women the right to vote, abolishing poll taxes, and lowering the minimum voting age. Other amendments have been more controversial, such as the proposal to outlaw flag burning, and the enactment and subsequent repeal of Prohibition.
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Frequently asked questions
The Founding Fathers were wary of democracy, which they saw as "mob rule". They believed that only wealthy, educated people should be allowed to vote and that the common people should participate indirectly through local governments and protests. They also wanted to limit the power of the government and establish rules for each part of it.
The Founding Fathers, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, were concerned that the Articles of Confederation were too weak and could lead to the collapse of the country. The Articles gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money.
The Founding Fathers were inspired by various Enlightenment philosophers, such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Montesquieu. They also drew from ancient constitutions, English legal traditions, and the Magna Carta.
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