Eleanor Finch
Historian and author Gordon S. Wood has written extensively on the American Revolution, the Constitution, and the early Republic. In his work, he explores the ideas and forces that shaped the founding of the United States, including the impact of the liberal and republican traditions. Wood's book Creation of the American Republic has been particularly influential, sparking interest in the republican or civic humanist tradition, which emphasises public virtue in popular government. Wood also contributed to How Democratic is the Constitution?, examining the democratic character of the Constitution and the intentions of its framers. He argues that the Federalists, who wrote the Constitution, aimed to insert checks on American democracy and individualism, but to secure its ratification, they had to appeal to the sovereignty of the people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of publication | 1980 |
| Author's full name | Gordon S. Wood |
| Author's profession | Historian, Professor of History at Brown University |
| Book's main focus | The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution |
| Main argument | The Constitution was fundamentally democratic for its time, but it could have been more egalitarian. |
| Key figures discussed | James Madison, John Fiske, Robert A. Dahl |
| Interpretive lens | Anti-anachronism, recognition of past as past |
| Academic discipline | History |
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What You'll Learn
The democratic character of the Constitution
Gordon S. Wood, a historian and professor of history at Brown University, has written extensively on the American Revolution, the making of the Constitution, and the rise of the early Republic. In his works, Wood discusses the democratic character of the Constitution and how it was shaped by the historical context of the time.
Wood acknowledges that the Constitution, as written by the Federalists, was intended to insert republican checks on American democracy and democratic individualism. The Federalists, including James Madison, sought to counter what they viewed as democratic excesses in the states. They wanted to create a new national government that would take power away from state legislatures and prevent abuse of power. However, to gain ratification of the Constitution, the Federalists had to appeal to the sovereignty of the people, ultimately securing the triumph of democracy.
Wood highlights the opening words of the Constitution, "We the People...do ordain and establish this Constitution," emphasizing the democratic nature of the document. He agrees with Amar's assessment that the Constitution, within its historical context, was the most democratic deed the world had ever seen. Amar argues that the framers, regardless of their aristocratic intentions, recognized the people as the source of all authority and sovereignty.
Furthermore, Wood and Amar contend that the Constitution was more democratic than any previous document of its kind. For example, Article I prescribed no property qualifications for voting or serving in government and ensured that members of the House of Representatives would be directly elected by the people. This broke with the membership practices of state upper houses in America.
However, Wood also recognizes that the Constitution fell short of modern standards of universal suffrage. Critics argue that the framers could have created a more democratic and egalitarian constitution. Nevertheless, Wood emphasizes that the Constitution must be understood within its historical context, and that the ideas and political truths of the time were different from those of the present.
In conclusion, Gordon S. Wood's analysis of the democratic character of the Constitution highlights the complexities of the founding period. By examining the intentions of the Federalists, the historical context, and the impact of republicanism, Wood provides valuable insights into the democratic nature of the Constitution and its influence on American democracy.
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The sovereignty of the people
Gordon S. Wood, a historian and professor of history at Brown University, has written extensively on the American Revolution, the Constitution, and the founding of the United States. In his works, he explores the ideas and forces that shaped the country's early years and how they continue to influence American society and politics today.
One of Wood's key arguments is that the Constitution, while a democratic document, was not intended to be as democratic as it is often portrayed or understood today. He suggests that the Federalists, who wrote the Constitution, did so with the aim of inserting republican checks on American democracy and democratic individualism. They wanted to prevent what they saw as democratic excesses in the states, believing that majority rule could lead to tyranny.
To secure ratification of the Constitution, however, the Federalists had to appeal to the sovereignty of the people. Wood argues that this resulted in the triumph of the very democracy the Federalists had sought to contain. He highlights the tension between the Federalists' intentions and the democratic ideals espoused in the Constitution's opening words: "We the People...do ordain and establish this Constitution."
Wood also acknowledges the criticisms of the Constitution's framers, including James Madison, for not creating a more egalitarian and democratic document. He defends them by pointing out that within the context of their time, the Constitution was remarkably democratic. It lacked property qualifications for voting or service in the government and prescribed that members of the House of Representatives would be directly elected by the people.
Wood's work has been influential, particularly among liberal legal theorists who have embraced his arguments as a foundation for challenging remaining restraints on government power. His recognition that the past is fundamentally different from the present has guided his interpretation of historical events and the motivations of the Constitution's framers.
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The Federalists' intentions
Historian Gordon S. Wood has written extensively about the intentions of the Federalists, a name that the promoters of the national constitution gave themselves, though they were nationalists, not federalists. Wood argues that the Federalists wrote the Constitution to insert republican checks on American democracy and democratic individualism.
Wood suggests that the Federalists pretended the Constitution was more democratic than it was to win its ratification. He highlights the Federalist Papers, which he describes as "high-level propaganda on behalf of the Constitution". The Federalists were nationalists who wanted to build up the national government at the expense of the states. They were angry at the weaknesses of the Congress under the Articles of Confederation, which lacked the authority to tax and had to rely on states for financial contributions. The Federalists wanted to limit majoritarian factionalism in the states and protect minority rights.
The Federalists also wanted to address the problems of democratic interest-group politics in the states, as outlined in Madison's Federalist No. 10. They believed that the Articles of Confederation had led to a weak confederation, and they wanted to create a stronger union to stand up to the world. Wood notes that the Federalists argued against the Anti-Federalists, who said that the federal government would become the supreme authority over the states, reducing their power.
Wood also discusses the impact of slavery on the intentions of the Federalists. For example, Northerners, especially New England Federalists, complained about the Southern dominance of the federal government, focusing on the Three-Fifths Clause of the Constitution that counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation in the House of Representatives and the Electoral College.
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The aristocratic intentions of the founders
Gordon S. Wood is a historian and professor of history at Brown University. In his work, Wood discusses the aristocratic intentions of the founders of the United States Constitution. While some critics portray the framers as "rich white elitists", Wood argues that they genuinely believed in the sovereignty of the people and that the people were the source of all authority. This is evident in the opening words of the Constitution: "We the People... do ordain and establish this Constitution".
However, Wood also acknowledges that the founders, including James Madison, were concerned about what they saw as democratic excesses in the states. Madison and the Federalists feared tyranny within the states, leading to the creation of the Virginia Plan, which proposed a strong national government to counter state legislatures that were creating injustice. The Federalists wrote the Constitution to insert republican checks on American democracy and democratic individualism. They had to appeal to the sovereignty of the people to get them to ratify the Constitution, ultimately securing the triumph of the very democracy they wanted to contain.
Wood's work provides insight into the complex motivations and intentions of the founders. He recognizes that the past is fundamentally different from the present and must be understood within its historical context. The ideas and values that guided the founding fathers may not transcend time and place, but understanding their aristocratic intentions is crucial for interpreting the Constitution and its impact on American society.
In conclusion, Wood's analysis of the aristocratic intentions of the founders highlights the complexities of the founding period and the ongoing evolution of American democracy. By understanding the founders' motivations and the historical context, we can better grasp the democratic character of the Constitution and its impact on the nation's political and social landscape.
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The role of Christianity
Historian Gordon S. Wood has written extensively on the American Revolution, the Constitution, and the rise of the early Republic. He has contributed to publications such as the New York Review of Books and The New Republic, and has authored numerous influential books, including The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787, which won the Bancroft and John H. Dunning Prizes in 1970.
Wood's work has been particularly important to liberal legal theorists, who have embraced his arguments as a foundation for challenging the remaining restraints on government power in the Constitution. Wood argues that the Federalists wrote the Constitution to insert republican checks on American democracy and democratic individualism. He suggests that the Federalists had to pretend the Constitution was more democratic than it was to win its ratification, with ironic and tragic results.
Wood's writings also emphasize the role of Christianity in the American founding. While he acknowledges the influence of the liberal tradition, which emphasized individual rights and limited government, he recognizes that Christianity formed the background understandings and shared values that 18th-century Americans brought to moral and political life. This Christian influence is evident in the debates surrounding the Constitution, such as those involving the Anti-Federalists, who denounced the Constitution for allowing officeholders from diverse religious backgrounds, including "Christians, Pagans, Mahometans, or Jews."
Wood also addresses the impact of religion on the Supreme Court's role in American society, with legal scholars citing his work to support their arguments for a "liberal original intent" that shapes the interpretation of law. Additionally, Wood discusses the efforts of individuals like Michael Novak to reconcile America's secularization with their religious faith. Novak, a Catholic, highlights the excitement of Catholic writers and thinkers about America's consonance with Catholic faith.
In conclusion, while Wood's work encompasses a broad range of topics related to the American founding, the role of Christianity is a significant aspect that informs his understanding of the historical context and the motivations of the Founding Fathers.
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Frequently asked questions
Wood argues that the Federalists wrote the Constitution to insert republican checks on American democracy and upon democratic individualism. However, to get the people to ratify the Constitution, they had to appeal to the sovereignty of the people, thus securing the triumph of the very democracy they were trying to contain.
Wood believes that the ideas of the founding fathers cannot guide us today as the past is fundamentally different from the present. He suggests that the past is irredeemably alien and that the Constitution should not be seen as having a timeless and universal meaning.
Wood notes that there is a lack of academic interest in the Constitution, with most universities no longer teaching undergraduate courses in American constitutional history. He observes that this lack of interest seemed dire enough to Congress that it mandated that educational institutions receiving federal funds commemorate Constitution Day.
