Core 3, Prof. Currah's Section

Questions on Charles Beard

Reading:

CHARLES BEARD, An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States, 1913

Note: "Personalty" refers to money, public securities, manufactures, and commerce. "Realty" refers to land.
  1. What is Beard's general argument?

    2.  

  2. Who precisely did vote to ratify the U.S. constitution?

 

3. What is his evidence?

 

4. What are Beard's conclusions? What are the larger implications of his conclusions for U.S. democracy?

 

5. Reread Madison's Federalist Number 10.   Do Madison and his interpreter, Beard, disagree on the facts at issue?  Or the values?  Which values?    How does Madison's rhetoric mask the economic interests at stake at the founding?  Refer to specific quotes in your answer.

 

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Paisley Currah
718-951-4148
Department of Political Science
Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11210
pcurrah@brooklyn.cuny.edu
Last Revised -- 01/28/99