Political Science 5 – Western Political Thought - Power Point #2

Western Political Thought Dr. John Paul Tabakian

Political Science 5 Fall 2012 – Power Point #2

COURSE LECTURE: WEEK #2

Today’s Lecture Covers The Following: • Classical & Modern Political Thought • Organic Roots Of The United States • John Locke’s “Second Treatise” • American Persona • Early Elite Influence In America • Cosmopolitanism • Manifest Destiny • Capitalism & Democracy Are Similar • Minor Paper Assignment #2 • Final-Major Paper

CLASSICAL POLITICAL THOUGHT

Aristotle states that inherent within man’s natural state of being, there exist different roles that are designated according to the need of any community. Special virtues are rewarded to those who accept their roles without question, beginning with those terms identified by Aristotle in the household, where the roles of husbands, wives, children and slaves are defined. Roles are assigned, for no man is able to exercise the same talents while producing exact levels of quality in their finished work (Politics, Book 1, Chapter 4, 1253b1). As the polis consists of citizens with enough leisure time to participate in government functions, it is the citizenry that determines those roles to be filled. Government itself has no emotions, or soul. Rather, it is the political activism of a few elites according to Aristotle that makes all government decisions.

MODERN POLITICAL THOUGHT

Classical liberalism refers to the beginning in terms of a historical rendition of the periods capable of being identified in which man existed. John Locke is recognized as being one of the first to anticipate the rise of liberal thought in his time. American political thought has been heavily influenced by Lockean principle. Simply put, liberalism derived comes from the straightforward ideology of capitalism, as one cannot have one without the other. Locke justifies capitalism by utilizing liberalism to criticize inequality, shaping everything around the premises of liberty and equality, thus coming to the conclusion that society cannot have one without the other.

ORGANIC ROOTS OF THE UNITED STATES (1)

In their quest for designing a viable representative government, the founding fathers dedicated themselves to careful study of the political philosophy of Europeans. Focusing primarily on British political thinkers from the 16th and 17th century, the founding fathers focused primarily on the natural rights of man, which in turn varied according to the individual philosopher studied. Over the course of their study, the founding fathers openly discussed their opinions with one another so as to properly bring forth differing views in order to prudently construct a government that would protect individual liberty, as well as determine what was required of government to protect civil liberties.

ORGANIC ROOTS OF THE UNITED STATES (2)

The theory of singular government deeply influenced founding fathers Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and even later political leaders like Abraham Lincoln, to present leaders of today. John Locke’s articulation of human nature, in turn relating the law of nature, which is reason, emphasized that a state of inconvenience results in a state of war (Second Treatise, Locke). The most acceptable alternative to a state of nature is a civil society or government, as long as the established authority protects equality. As the fundamental desire of mankind is life itself, government’s foremost priority is to protect property. Alexander Hamilton further propounded this position in that government is indeed a reflection on human nature (Federalist Paper #51).

JOHN LOCKE’S “SECOND TREATISE” (1)

•Recognized as the first to anticipate the rise of liberal thought in his time.

•Addressed the merits of exchanging certain natural rights or liberties for civil rights as afforded by a social contract that provides a foundation of laws assuring freedom and equality for all citizens.

• One cannot have liberalism without capitalism.

•Embodies tolerance, freedom of speech and religion with capitalism. Social contract is man’s way of establishing a government to guarantee those identified fundamental rights.

•Argues that the law of God serves as the fundamental example of what constitutes natural rights.


•John Lock is very secular as his natural law argument demonstrates. Adopted to make Christianity more progressive, Locke argues that the law of reason is in actuality the law of nature with natural law governed by God.

•No man has sovereignty by birth or any other greater freedom, for all of man are seen in the same light under God’s eyes. (Chap.1)

•Locke argues that man’s natural duty is to insure his self-preservation, which he bases on two qualifications. First, men do what is necessary for their pursuit of life, liberty and prosperity. Second, man can only take from another if it is dependent on preserving his own life, liberty and prosperity. (Chap.1)


•Self-preservation is absolute only in a state of war, for when force without rights exists, it presents a theater through which violence exists outside the reach of law. (Sec.17)

•Stresses that rights or duties accorded in a state of nature are based on natural law, or reason. His whole theory is based on the tenets of liberalism with a focus on relationships and conflict. (Preface)

•Examines how one can and cannot morally possess material goods. States that the law of nature demands that no one shall waste or spoil anything that others could use. Arguing that one’s claims to the products of the earth is in truth owned in common by all, the right of subsistence cannot justify waste, for one does not own the Earth. (Sec.36)


•Self-regulating capitalism is the overriding purpose of the establishment of this contract in order to insure that equality and freedom continue to exist outside of the state of nature. Addressing the needy deficiencies of the state of nature, Locke examines the need for common consent with the people following the basic tenets of natural law. Man thereby agrees to give up their natural rights in exchange for civil rights in return for order in a civil society.

•Argues that the rule of law must apply to all in the same fashion, fairly affecting all aspects of society. The state of nature dictates that the law must treat all people equally for no one has the right to control another absolutely.


•From the beginning: Adam & Eve. Neither had total control over their children or the Earth. (Chap.1)

•People must freely surrender some of their inalienable rights in order for the construction of government. (Chap.1)

•All are charged with the responsibility of ensuring their prosperity. None may willfully retreat from life to death. (Sec.6)

•A state of war results when one’s survival is jeopardized. Slavery produces a state of war. (Sec.8)

•No man shall do harm. Transgressors shall be punished either by the state or individual. (Sec.11)


•State of nature is a state of peace, good will, mutual assistance and preservation. A state of enmity, malice, violence and mutual destruction is in fact a state of war. (Sec.16)

•When actual force ends then so does the state of war. Both sides are then subjected to the faire determination of the law. (Sec.20)

•Men willingly join a society to prevent a state of war. (Sec.21)

•Man shall not be under any other legislative power, but that established, by consent, in the commonwealth. Only those restraints placed by the legislature may apply. (Sec.22)


•Only those powers willfully forfeited may be applied to man. No one can give more away more power than he has himself. He that cannot take away his own life, cannot give another power over it. (Sec.23)

•Every man has a property in his own person. No power has any right to this property except the respective individual.(Sec.27)

•Adding labor or value makes the end product man’s. (Sec.28)

•Ethics of converting or trading tangible products into currency. This brings money, gold and silver, into the foray. (Sec.50)


The freedom then of man, and liberty of acting according to his own will, is grounded on his having reason, which is able to instruct him in that law he is to govern himself by, and make him know how far he is left to the freedom of his own will. To turn him loose to an unrestrained liberty, before he has reason to guide him, is not the allowing him the privilege of his nature to be free; but to thrust him out amongst brutes, and abandon him to a state as wretched, and as much beneath that of a man, as their's. This is that which puts the authority into the parents hands to govern the minority of their children. God hath made it their business to employ this care on their offspring, and hath placed in them suitable inclinations of tenderness and concern to temper this power, to apply it, as his wisdom designed it, to the children's good, as long as they should need to be under it. (Sec.63)


MEN being, as has been said, by nature, all free, equal, and independent, no one can be put out of this estate, and subjected to the political power of another, without his own consent. The only way whereby any one divests himself of his natural liberty, and puts on the bonds of civil society, is by agreeing with other men to join and unite into a community for their comfortable, safe, and peaceable living one amongst another, in a secure enjoyment of their properties, and a greater security against any, that are not of it. (Sec.95)


For when any number of men have, by the consent of every individual, made a community, they have thereby made that community one body, with a power to act as one body, which is only by the will and determination of the majority: for that which acts any community, being only the consent of the individuals of it, and it being necessary to that which is one body to move one way; it is necessary the body should move that way whither the greater force carries it, which is the consent of the majority: or else it is impossible it should act or continue one body, one community, which the consent of every individual that united into it, agreed that it should; and so every one is bound by that consent to be concluded by the majority. (Sec.96)


IF man in the state of nature be so free, as has been said; if he be absolute lord of his own person and possessions, equal to the greatest, and subject to no body, why will he part with his freedom? why will he give up this empire, and subject himself to the dominion and control of any other power? To which it is obvious to answer, that though in the state of nature he hath such a right, yet the enjoyment of it is very uncertain, and constantly exposed to the invasion of others: for all being kings as much as he, every man his equal, and the greater part no strict observers of equity and justice, the enjoyment of the property he has in this state is very unsafe, very insecure. Protection of property is the primary motivator to join civil society. (Sec.123)


THE majority having, as has been shewed, upon men's first uniting into society, the whole power of the community naturally in them, may employ all that power in making laws for the community from time to time, and executing those laws by officers of their own appointing; and then the form of the government is a perfect democracy: or else may put the power of making laws into the hands of a few select men, and their heirs or successors; and then it is an oligarchy: or else into the hands of one man, and then it is a monarchy: if to him and his heirs, it is an hereditary monarchy: if to him only for life, but upon his death the power only of nominating a successor to return to them; an elective monarchy. And so accordingly of these the community may make compounded and mixed forms of government, as they think good. (Sec.132)


Though the legislative, whether placed in one or more, whether it be always in being, or only by intervals, though it be the supreme power in every common-wealth; yet,

First: It is not, nor can possibly be absolutely arbitrary over the lives and fortunes of the people: for it being but the joint power of every member of the society given up to that person, or assembly, which is legislator; it can be no more than those persons had in a state of nature before they entered into society, and gave up to the community: for no body can transfer to another more power than he has in himself; and no body has an absolute arbitrary power over himself, or over any other, to destroy his own life, or take away the life or property of another. (Sec.135)


Second: The legislative, or supreme authority, cannot assume to its self a power to rule by extemporary arbitrary decrees, but is bound to dispense justice, and decide the rights of the subject by promulgated standing laws, and known authorized judges: for the law of nature being unwritten, and so no where to be found but in the minds of men, they who through passion or interest shall miscite, or misapply it, cannot so easily be convinced of their mistake where there is no established judge: and so it serves not, as it ought, to determine the rights, and fence the properties of those that live under it, especially where every one is judge, interpreter, and executioner of it too, and that in his own case: and he that has right on his side, having ordinarily but his own single strength, hath not force enough to defend himself from injuries, or to punish delinquents. (Sec.136)


Absolute arbitrary power, or governing without settled standing laws, can neither of them consist with the ends of society and government, which men would not quit the freedom of the state of nature for, and tie themselves up under, were it not to preserve their lives, liberties and fortunes, and by stated rules of right and property to secure their peace and quiet.This were to put themselves into a worse condition than the state of nature, wherein they had a liberty to defend their right against the injuries of others, and were upon equal terms of force to maintain it, whether invaded by a single man, or many in combination. (Sec.137)


Thirdly, The supreme power cannot take from any man any part of his property without his own consent: for the preservation of property being the end of government, and that for which men enter into society, it necessarily supposes and requires, that the people should have property, without which they must be supposed to lose that, by entering into society, which was the end for which they entered into it; too gross an absurdity for any man to own. (Sec.138)


Legislative Powers Of The Commonwealth:

(1) Govern by promulgated established laws, not to be varied in particular cases, but to have one rule for rich and poor, for the favorite at court, and the country man at plough.

(2) Laws also ought to be designed for no other end ultimately, but the good of the people.

(3) They must not raise taxes on the property of the people, without the consent of the people, given by themselves, or their deputies.

(4) The legislative neither must nor can transfer the power of making laws to any body else, or place it any where, but where the people have. (Sec.142)


• But because the laws, that are at once, and in a short time made, have a constant and lasting force, and need a perpetual execution, or an attendance thereunto; therefore it is necessary there should be a power always in being, which should see to the execution of the laws that are made, and remain in force. And thus the legislative and executive power come often to be separated. (Sec.144)

• Executive and federative, though they be really distinct in themselves, yet one comprehending the execution of the municipal laws of the society within its self, upon all that are parts of it; the other the management of the security and interest of the public without, with all those that it may receive benefit or damage from, yet they are always almost united. (Sec.147)


In a constituted common-wealth, standing upon its own basis, and acting according to its own nature, that is, acting for the preservation of the community, there can be but one supreme power, which is the legislative, to which all the rest are and must be subordinate, yet the legislative being only a fiduciary power to act for certain ends, there remains still in the people a supreme power to remove or alter the legislative, when they find the legislative act contrary to the trust reposed in them: for all power given with trust for the attaining an end, being limited by that end, whenever that end is manifestly neglected, or opposed, the trust must necessarily be forfeited, and the power devolve into the hands of those that gave it. (sec.149)


WHERE the legislative and executive power are in distinct hands, (as they are in all moderated monarchies, and well-framed governments) there the good of the society requires, that several things should be left to the discretion of him that has the executive power: for the legislators not being able to foresee, and provide by laws, for all that may be useful to the community, the executor of the laws having the power in his hands, has by the common law of nature a right to make use of it for the good of the society, in many cases, where the municipal law has given no direction, till the legislative can conveniently be assembled to provide for it. (Sec.159)


Because the miscarriages of the father are no faults of the children, and they may be rational and peaceable, notwithstanding the brutishness and injustice of the father; the father, by his miscarriages and violence, can forfeit but his own life, but involves not his children in his guilt or destruction. His goods, which nature, that willeth the preservation of all mankind as much as is possible, hath made to belong to the children to keep them from perishing, do still continue to belong to his children: for supposing them not to have joined in the war, either through infancy, absence, or choice, they have done nothing to forfeit them: nor has the conqueror any right to take them away. (Sec.182)


AS usurpation is the exercise of power, which another hath a right to; so tyranny is the exercise of power beyond right, which no body can have a right to. And this is making use of the power any one has in his hands, not for the good of those who are under it, but for his own private separate advantage. When the governor, however entitled, makes not the law, but his will, the rule; and his commands and actions are not directed to the preservation of the properties of his people, but the satisfaction of his own ambition, revenge, covetousness, or any other irregular passion. (Sec.199)


Where-ever law ends, tyranny begins, if the law be transgressed to another's harm; and whosoever in authority exceeds the power given him by the law, and makes use of the force he has under his command, to compass that upon the subject, which the law allows not, ceases in that to be a magistrate; and, acting without authority, may be opposed, as any other man, who by force invades the right of another. This is acknowledged in subordinate magistrates. He that hath authority to seize my person in the street, may be opposed as a thief and a robber, if he endeavors to break into my house to execute a writ, notwithstanding that I know he has such a warrant, and such a legal authority, as will empower him to arrest me abroad. (Sec. 202)

John Locke’s “Second Treatise” (25)

HE that will with any clearness speak of the dissolution of government, ought in the first place to distinguish between the dissolution of the society and the dissolution of the government. That which makes the community, and brings men out of the loose state of nature, into one politic society, is the agreement which every one has with the rest to incorporate, and act as one body, and so be one distinct commonwealth. The usual, and almost only way whereby this union is dissolved, is the inroad of foreign force. Thus conquerors swords often cut up governments by the roots, and mangle societies to pieces, separating the subdued or scattered multitude from the protection of, and dependence on, that society which ought to have preserved them from violence.. Besides this over-turning from without, governments are dissolved from within. (Sec. 211)


First, When the legislative is altered. Civil society being a state of peace, amongst those who are of it, from whom the state of war is excluded by the umpirage, which they have provided in their legislative, for the ending all differences that may arise amongst any of them, it is in their legislative, that the members of a commonwealth are united, and combined together into one coherent living body. (Sec.212)

CAPITALISM & DEMOCRACY ARE SIMILAR (1)

For freedom to rein it is required for the market place to determine the fate of all products, services and ideas. No interference can burden this process. Oversight is not necessarily detrimental as is the policy of the United States to regulate various industries. The death kneel comes when powerful spheres of influence serve to squash competition. John Locke argues it best when he suggests that liberalism can never exist without capitalism. This is the philosophy of Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” where he explains how markets determine the fate of all competing interests seeking society’s acceptance. We are today living in a time of unprecedented technological innovation that is helping to propel humanity further the ladder of evolution. This would not be possible if vested interests were prevented from pursuing market acceptance.


John Locke and Adam Smith would agree that there is no fundamental difference between a marketed product, service or even political idea. All interest groups competing in the marketplace are engaged in the same pursuit: acceptance. Companies competing for market dollars strive to offer the most cost efficient product or service that is also the most innovative. This in turn encourages competing peers to further maximize efficiency while also stretching the bounds of innovation in order to offer the best value. Marketing ideas is in essence the same we have witnessed with political campaigns striving for societal acceptance. Political organizations seeking for example the election of a particular individual to office must secure a majority of the market within a certain region. Competing campaigns offer different ideas to the market that seek to offer a better value. This constant battle allows all individuals to decide for themselves what “product” “service” or even “idea” is best. We all benefit from conflict.


Let us look at the example of telecommunications to understand the benefits of conflict. Prior to 1996, there existed in Southern California like most other regions in the United States, two cellular telephone companies. These were the days of analog communications, or AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System). Southern California was home to Airtouch and LA Cellular prior to 1996. Both companies maintained prices that prevented the average consumer from fully utilizing their services, or even purchasing them at all. Everything changed with the signage of the 1996 Telecommunications Act by President Bill Clinton. The bill allowed for more efficient use of spectrum, thereby allowing easier access for companies to compete in wireless communications.


Various competitors entered to compete for market acceptance, requiring all companies to strive for greater efficiency, while also providing even greater services. Consumers today face a wide selection of companies who individually offer greater communication services that go beyond voice services to encompass video calling and broadband internet. The invisible hand eliminates those companies that do not provide the greatest benefit for consumers.


The ultimate nightmare may be the elimination of debate. Many have unwittingly called for this in the halls of government. It is not debate that threatens society, but the lack of contesting ideas. Policies enacted to prevent overly powerful monopolies help to maintain open competition. To have one overly powerful sphere of interest prevent debate is destructive to the system itself. Pluralism emphasizes both conflict and compromise with interest groups engaged in a constant pursuit of power that naturally results in established alliances to compete with peer spheres that are doing the same, resulting in the formation of two major spheres.


Public policy would thereby stall until reaching a compromise between these two majority powers. This in turn helps to protect the majority of those residing in society. Every policy requires constant improvement for humanity to arrive closer to perfection. Those that call for the elimination of special interest groups or even the restriction of political debate are ignorant for this process benefits society immensely.

ISSUES OF CONCERN: COLA & WAGES

COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustments) and wages are two major issues of concern. National economy, as national security are the two top issues of debate every year. How do national elites seek to manipulate mass beliefs about why wages just barely keep pace with daily expenses? “Why Play Leapfrog” is a Cold War-era cartoon aimed at convincing workers that increased productivity brings about greater purchasing power. The film begins with a brief introductory sequence showing two cartoon figures -- one representing prices and the other representing wages -- playing leapfrog as each successively rises on the cost-of-living index.

ISSUES OF CONCERN: FREEDOM

Propaganda is a necessary tool. “Make Mine Freedom” is a 1948 Cold War-era cartoon that uses humor to tout the dangers of Communism and the benefits of capitalism. Various points made in this presentation touch on John Locke’s “Second Treatise Of Government”. Can you pick them out?

AMERICAN PERSONA (1)

America has enjoyed a comparable advantage in terms of its continental location. It has been insulated from major powers by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and bordered between two friendly neighbors, Canada and Mexico, who are heavily dependent on the well-being of its neighbor. Over the course of the early federalist period of the U.S., realism remained the prevalent form of political thinking among American statesmen. The basic underpinnings of the early nation sensed the apparent dangers of the great European powers reigning at the time, including an outright acceptance over the fact that the young republic was in constant danger of attack, never to escape the crosshairs of foreign politics.


Over the course of the early federalist period of the U.S., realism remained the prevalent form of political thinking among American statesmen. The basic underpinnings of the early nation sensed the apparent dangers of the great European powers reigning at the time, including an outright acceptance over the fact that the young republic was in constant danger of attack, never to escape the crosshairs of foreign politics. America’s leaders from past to present have maintained a cosmopolitan belief system. This entails viewing the power position of the United States from the eyes of foreign powers. public policy makers for the most part maintain a cosmopolitan belief system.


Embedded within the American persona is a belief that the U.S. was not solely an experiment in republican government, but a nation blessed with superior principles and institutions, which in time would be adopted throughout the world. American policy makers have maintained an idealist ideology in order to formulate foreign, as well as domestic policy, though its foreign policy is based inherently on realist dogma. U.S. foreign policy is thus utilized as an avenue in which to promote American ideals, combining practical capacity for realizing the evils of man, yet continuing to remain devoted to the idealistic notions of the American success story.


America’s political wisdom grew rapidly following its inception as an independent nation. The country never lost sight of its political insight, historic perspective and the common sense approach of the American spirit in relation to its standing among other nations. Maintaining a quest for simplistic solutions in disregard of concurrent external forces is a trait of the American persona. Relations among neighbors in the international system are focused on an unbridled philanthropy through apparent selfish inward improvement, as a training method for world improvement. Accordingly, it is idealism that promotes unbounded philosophical philanthropy as a selfish desire of American policy. In more extreme terms, idealism promotes the notion that the U.S., through its coaching of nation states, serves as the premiere example that if followed, will produce unbridled prosperity for all.

PROPAGANDA – CINEMOCRACY (1)

Governmental elites may believe that their national policies are so concrete that it is necessary to utilize various forms of propaganda gage in propaganda to incite specific reactions from its citizens. Various forms of propaganda have been utilized to drum up mass support to better assure elite legitimacy. Cinemocracy, the relationship between motion pictures and government is one way governmental elites sell their agenda. Enjoy this classic cartoon where “Popeye The Sailor Man” battles the Nazis.

THE LAYERS

FARMERSGREAT MASS OF WHITE AMERICANS

WHO HAD LITTLE INTEREST IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

MIDDLE CLASSSUCCESSFUL BODY OF INDIVDUALS

ELITEDOMINATED SOCIAL, CULTURAL, ECONOMIC, & POLITICAL LIFE

ELITES AND MASSES IN EARLY AMERICA

• Government Under The Articles Of Confederation • Established A “Firm League Of Friendship” • Identified Powers Belonging To The National

Government • Reassured Each State Of Its

• Sovereignty • Freedom • Independence

• Repayment Of Loans Made To Congress • Investors Who Backed The American War Effort Had

Difficulty Securing Their Loans • Without The Power To Ta, The Future Of The

American Government Looked Bleak

ELITE PREFERENCES: INSPIRATION FOR A NEW CONSTITUTION

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

Though the American Revolution was that of ideas, it was a full out war. Victorious, the thirteen colonies established and lived under the Articles of Confederation until the adoption of the Constitution of 1787. Revolutionary itself, the Articles of Confederation provided little assistance for a nation absent of leaders who possessed experience in governing the whole country. The Articles of Confederation linked the thirteen colonies in mainly defensive guarantees. Though a congress with typical authority associated with a central government was established with normal duties including the right to declare war, engage in treaties and coin money, there lacked an executive branch to enforce decisions. Congress was state directed, with each state having a single vote. Nine out of thirteen states had to agree if anything were to be passed.

• Protection Of Bankers And Creditors

• State-Issued Paper Money Permitted Debtors To Pay Off Creditors With Money Worth Less Than They Originally Owned

• Opening Western Land To Speculation

• Need A Strong Central Government

• With Enough Military Power To Oust The British From The Northwest

• To Protect Settlers Against Indian Attacks

• The Protection And Settlement

• Cause Land Values To Increase

• Make Land Speculators Rich


Protection Of Shipping And Manufacturing Strong Navy Important To American Commercial

Interests Tariff Barriers Not Adequate Against Foreign Goods

Ensuring The Return Of Runaway Slaves Protection Of Human “Property” Sought In 1787, Slavery Was Lawful Everywhere Except In

Massachusetts Nation’s Founders Prepared To Protect Slavery Southern Economy Highly Dependent On Slaves

Exercising Powers In World Affairs Confederation Held In Contempt By Britain And Barbary

States Elite Wanted To Assume Role In The International

Community And Exercise Power In World Affairs


• An Annapolis Convention

• Report That Outlined Defects In The Articles Of Confederation

• Called Upon States To Send Delegates To New Convention To Suggest Remedies

• George Washington’s Prestige

• 55 Men Chose George Washington In The Summer Of 1787

• Stood At The Apex Of American Elite Structure

FORMATION OF A NATIONAL ELITE

• Founders’ Governing Experience—Wealthy Individuals

• Wealth Assumed A Variety Of Forms: • Land, Ships, Business Inventories, Slaves, • Credit, Bonds, Paper Money

• Founders’ “ Continental” View • Cosmopolitanism Distinguished The Men Of

Philadelphia From The Masses • “Continental” Point Of View For Political,

Economic, & Military Issues • Members Of The Elite Extended Their Loyalties

Beyond Their States

FORMATION OF A NATIONAL ELITE

• Goal Of Government Is To Protect Liberty And Property • Origin Of Government Is Implied Contract Among

People • Elites Believed In

• A Republican Government • Limited Government Could Not Threaten Liberty Or

Property • A Strong National Government Could

• “Establish Justice, • Insure Domestic Tranquility, • Provide For The Common Defense, • Promote The General Welfare, And • Secure The Blessings Of Liberty”

ELITE CONSENSUS IN 1787

• Representation Compromise • Addressed Representation In The National Legislature

• Slavery Compromise –The Three-fifths Compromise • For Tax And Representation Purposes: Slaves Counted

As Three-fifths of A Person • Export Tax Compromise –Between Planters And Merchants

• Articles Exported From Any State Should Not Bear Tax Or Duty

• Imports Could Only Be Taxed By The National Government

• Voter Qualification Compromise • Concerned Qualifications For Voting And Holding Office • Electors In States Should Qualify For Electors Of The

Most Numerous Branch Of The State Legislatures • Women Could Not Participate In Government

AN ELITE IN OPERATION: CONCILIATION AND COMPROMISE

• Elites Benefited More Directly And Immediately Than Did Nonelites

• Levying Taxes • Congress Given Power To Tariff

• Regulating Commerce –The Interstate Commerce Clause & The Provision In Article I, Section 9 • Created Free Trade Area Over The Thirteen

States • The Arrangement Was Beneficial For American

Merchants. • Protecting Money And Property

• Congress Gains Control Over Currency And Credit

THE CONSTITUTION AS ELITIST DOCUMENT

• Creating The Military –Two Purposes • Army and Navy Promote Commercial and

Territorial Ambitions • Protection From Invasion

• Protecting Against Revolution • Protect The Government From Revolution By

Providing Military • Protect Slaveholders From Slave Revolt

• Protecting Slavery • Congress Outlawed The Import Of Slaves After

1808 • Protect Existing Property And Slaves


• Limiting States In Business Affairs

• Prevents States “Impairing The Obligation Of Contracts”

• Limiting States In Monetary Affairs

• Provided Protection To Elite

• States Could Not

• Coin Money

• Issue Paper Money

• Make Money Other Than Gold Or Silver Coin Legal Tender In Payment Of Debt


• Structure Reflects Desire To Protect Liberty And Property

• Elite Control Government and Policy Decisions • National Supremacy – Congressional Control Of

Decisions • Republicanism – Representative Government

• Separated Powers In The National Government • Bulwark Against Majoritarianism • Additional Safeguard For Elite Liberty & Property • Divides Responsibilities • Difficult To Hold Government Accountable For

Public Policy

ELITISM AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

• Ratification Rules Designed To Give Clear Advantage To Supporters Of Constitution • Special Ratifying Conventions Called • Extraordinary Ratification Procedure • Minority Of Population Participated In Ratifying The

Constitution • Emergence Of Anti-federalist Opposition

• Feared A Strong Federal Government’s Control • Confidence In Ability To Control State Government

• The Bill Of Rights An An Afterthought • Most Effective Criticism Centered On The Absence

Of Bill Of Rights

RATIFICATION: AN EXERCISE IN ELITE POLITICAL SKILLS

Political Science 5 – Western Political Thought - Power Point #2

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