Running Head: Historical Lenses

Running Head Historical Lenses

HISTORICAL LENSES 4 Drafting of the United States Constitution Student’s name Institution affiliation Date The lens I chose is political. I have the topic, The constitution of United States began in the year 1787. This drafting occurred when there was a meeting at Pennsylvania of constitutional convention (Rutherglen, 2018). According to people who drafted the constitution, the first governing document, the confederation articles and the government did their operations like countries that were independent. In this case, the political lens can be used to show how politicians tried to write down the laws and the purpose of drafting the constitution.

“Comparisons (both favorable and unfavorable) with the Philadelphia Convention and the adoption of the United States Constitution in 1787 abound.†The drafted took place after America gained its independence from the Great Britain and this is when the republic thought of having a central government that was strong for its stability (Rutherglen, 2018). Some events that led to this drafting included the start of revolutionary war, adding of tax to sugar and molasses, passing of the stamp act that made colonists deliver supplies to British soldiers and the gain of independence. This can be political as well as historical lens.Some overall needs that were included in the US constitution include the Bill of rights which guaranteed an individual’s protection.

The bill of right gave freedom of speech and religion to different states. The role of citizens during the drafting included having the power to govern it and this was not for ordinary citizens but for white Protestants who owned property. This people were the only ones allowed to vote. An economic lens has been used here to show that citizens who didn’t own property didn’t have the power to vote. Drafting the constitution by Michael lance graham “The ten amendments made in the US constitution were referred to as the bill of rights which consisted civil liberties guarantees and state power checks.†(Mestad, 2017).

This guarantees and checks were added so that the states would be convinced to ratify the constitution. Some opposition groups such as Anti-Federalists opposed constitution ratification since they thought the government would be more powerful. There is an economic lens used by the author in this scenario to show how opposition groups such as Anti-federalists had no power over ratification. Though this opposition groups were unsuccessful, they ensured the Bill of rights was implemented. Historical lenses in this picture try to study the drafting of the US constitution at different angels that why we don’t have biased decisions about the drafting (Vile, 2016).

They include the political and the economic lenses. References Mestad, O. (2017). The Impact of the US Constitution on the Norwegian Constitution and on Emigration to America. Norwegian-American Essays , 27-44. Retrieved from Rutherglen, G. (2018). The Framers' Coup: The Making of the United States Constitution. Retrieved from Vile, J. R. (2016). Conventional Wisdom: The Alternate Article V Mechanism for Proposing Amendments to the US Constitution . University of Georgia Press.

Paper For Above instruction

The drafting of the United States Constitution in 1787 stands as a fundamental event in American history, reflecting intricate political, social, and economic negotiations. Employing a political lens reveals the strategic efforts of leaders to craft a document that balanced power among states and the federal government, a process driven by the desire to create stability after independence from Britain. The Convention, held in Philadelphia, brought together diverse representatives who aimed to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which had proven inadequate for managing a burgeoning nation (Rutherglen, 2018). Through careful political deliberation, the framers sought to establish a government capable of unifying the states while safeguarding liberties, resulting in a constitution that reflected their ambitions for national cohesion and sovereignty.

The historical context of the period was shaped by the revolutionary struggle and subsequent British policies, such as the Stamp Act and taxation issues, that fueled colonial discontent and independence movements (Rutherglen, 2018). These events underscored the need for a new political framework, leading to the constitutional convention. The political motivations included not only creating a central authority but also addressing fears of overpowering state sovereignty. The Bill of Rights, added shortly after, was instrumental in ensuring individual freedoms like speech and religion, which in turn helped garner ratification by assuaging fears of centralized tyranny (Mestad, 2017).

The role of citizens in this process was markedly restricted, predominantly limited to property-owning white Protestants who had the right to vote, reflecting the prevailing economic and social inequalities of the time. An economic lens highlights that property ownership was a prerequisite for voting rights, emphasizing class distinctions and wealth as criteria for political participation (Vile, 2016). This economic bias was reinforced by the framers' desire to align political power with property interests, subsequently marginalizing non-property owners and minorities.

Opposition groups such as the Anti-Federalists voiced significant concerns about centralized authority, fearing the potential erosion of states' rights and individual liberties. Despite their opposition not preventing ratification, they influenced the inclusion of the Bill of Rights, which served as a compromise to address their concerns (Vile, 2016). The Anti-Federalists' efforts exemplify how political and economic fears shaped the content and ratification process of the Constitution, illustrating the dynamic interplay of competing interests during the founding period.

In conclusion, the drafting of the U.S. Constitution can be understood through multiple lenses, notably political and economic. The political lens underscores the strategic negotiations aimed at creating a balanced government, while the economic lens exposes the class and property-based influences that limited suffrage to property-owning citizens. Historical insights reveal that these biases and concerns infused the constitutional process, shaping the foundational government of the United States. Recognizing these perspectives allows for a comprehensive understanding of the Constitution's origins and the enduring debates about authority, liberty, and participation that continue to influence American politics today (Vile, 2016; Rutherglen, 2018; Mestad, 2017).

References

• Mestad, O. (2017). The Impact of the US Constitution on the Norwegian Constitution and on Emigration to America. Norwegian-American Essays, 27-44.
• Rutherglen, G. (2018). The Framers' Coup: The Making of the United States Constitution. Retrieved from [URL]
• Vile, J. R. (2016). Conventional Wisdom: The Alternate Article V Mechanism for Proposing Amendments to the US Constitution. University of Georgia Press.
• Beeman, R. R. (2009). Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution. Random House.
• Rakove, J. N. (1996). Original Meanings: Politics and Ideas in the Making of the Constitution. Vintage Books.
• Wood, G. S. (1991). The Creation of the American Republic, 1776–1787. University of North Carolina Press.
• Farrand, M. (1937). Records of the Federal Convention. Yale University Press.
• Maier, P. (2010). Ratification: The People Debate the Constitution, 1787–1788. Simon & Schuster.
• Berliner, B. J. (2015). The Debate Over the Constitution: Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Praeger.
• Elkins, S. M., & McKitrick, E. (1993). The Age of Federalism. Oxford University Press.