1. Democracy in the U.S. and The Origins of the American Republic1

2. Democracy…what is it? Definition: Two types
Founders’ distrust of direct democracy
Republic
Democracy: Rule by the people
Two types:
Direct: rule by the people themselves
Indirect (representative): rule by elected representatives
Founders’ distrust of direct democracy
Impracticalities
Fleeting passions of the people  concern that they would be swayed by demagogues
Republic
Same as indirect democracy and it solves the problems of direct democracy
“Secures the advantages of direct democracy while curing its weaknesses.” 2

3. Democratic Theory Majoritarian politics view: Elite politics views:
Marxist:
C. Wright Mills:
Max Weber:
Pluralist view
Hyperpluralist view:
Democratic Theory
Majoritarian politics view: leaders are heavily influenced by the will of the people
Elite politics views: minorities dominate policy making
Marxist: influence of economic elites
C. Wright Mills: influence of power elite: corporate, military, political (Eisenhower’s “military industrial complex”)
Max Weber: influence of bureaucracy
Pluralist view
Political resources are so scattered that no single elite has a monopoly on them.
There are so many institutions in which power is exercised that no single elite could possibly control all of them.
Pluralism therefore argues that many groups compete with each other for control over policy. Policy is therefore the outcome of political haggling, innumerable compromises, and ever-shifting alliances among groups.
Hyperpluralist view:
“Pluralism gone sour.”
There are so many groups, and they are so strong, that government has become gridlocked and is unable to act. 3

4. Fundamentals of the Political System
Fundamental democratic values
Fundamental democratic processes.
Fundamental democratic structures
Fundamental democratic values
Popular sovereignty
Respect for the individual. State serves individual, not vice-versa
Liberty
Equality- of opportunity more than result. Role of FDR’s 2nd Bill of Rights: economic security.
Fundamental democratic processes.
Free and fair elections, with competing political parties
Majority rule with minority rights. Fear of “tyranny of the majority” led to protection of property rights.
Freedom of expression.
Right to assemble and protest
Fundamental democratic structures (briefly – covered in more detail later)
Federalism
Separation of powers
Checks and balances
Constitutionalism 4

5. Forms of Democracy Unitary Confederation Unitary States States People

6. The Making of a Constitution
Sources of the Constitution
Constitutional Convention, 1787
Background
Decl. of Indep.  Rev. War  Articles of Confed. and its weak central govt.
Annapolis convention, 1786:
Shay’s Rebellion, 1786
Sources of the Constitution
British customs and traditions: Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights
European philosophers: Locke, Hobbes, Montesquieu, Rousseau
Colonial experiences: power of the elected assembly
State constitutions: written after the Declaration of Independence (Preamble closely resembles the introduction to the Mass. Constitution)
Constitutional Convention, 1787
Background
Decl. of Indep.  Rev. War  Articles of Confed. and its weak central govt.
No power to tax
No chief executive
No national judiciary
No power to regulate interstate or foreign commerce
No national currency
2. Annapolis convention, 1786:
Called to improve the Articles
3. Shay’s Rebellion, 1786
a. Necessity of a stronger national government 6

7. Constitutional Convention
Delegates
Characteristics:
Participants
Madison:
Washington:
Franklin:
Morris:
Hamilton:
Charles Beard’s Economic interpretation of the United States (1913)
Delegates
Characteristics: “well-read, well-bred, well-fed, and well-wed.”
Participants
Madison: “Father of Const.” because of leadership and detailed notes of proceedings
Washington: presiding officer
Franklin: “elder statesman”
Morris: largely responsible for final wording of Const.
Hamilton: most forceful advocate for strong central government
Charles Beard’s Economic interpretation of the United States (1913) (p )
Constitution was written by propertied class  naturally reflected those interests (although no conspiracy per se)
Rebuttals
Most people owned property
Even the poor, in hopes of someday owning property, wanted to protect property
Establishing a democratic government involved risks and dangers  need to build in safeguards and protections 7

8. Areas of Agreement 10 areas of agreement… Areas of agreement
Scrap the Articles of Confederation
Establish a republican government
Establish a constitutional government
Establish a balanced government where no single interest dominated
Suffrage for property owners only
Stronger central government than under the Articles
Protection of property rights: the main purpose of government
Keep the proceedings secret
10 areas of agreement… 8

9. Areas of Disagreement Representation among states
Representation and Taxation of slaves
Election of President
Individual Rights
Areas of disagreement  compromises
Representation among the states (p.39-40)
Large states favored the Virginia Plan: based upon population
Small states favored the New Jersey Plan: equal representation
Connecticut (Great) Compromise: a bicameral legislature with a popularly-elected House (based upon population) and a Senate (equal representation) elected by state legislatures
Representation and taxation of slaves (p. 40)
Northern states wanted slaves to count for taxation, but not representation
Southern states wanted the opposite
3/5 Compromise: 3/5 of the slaves would count for both purposes (3/5 was the ratio that would yield representation among northern and southern states)
Election of the President
Life term v. annual election  compromise of a 4-year term
Method of election:
Some wanted election by Congress
Some wanted election by state legislatures
Some wanted direct election
Compromise: Electoral College system
Individual Rights (p.43-44)
Creation of bill of rights 9

10. Ratification politics
Ratification Process
Antifederalists
Supporters:
Views:
Leaders:
Federalists
Advantages:
Ratification
Ratification politics
Antifederalists (p )
Supporters: small farmers, frontiersmen, debtors, shopkeepers
Views
Feared concentration of power in hands of elites
Believed that government should be closer to the people
Feared strong central government. Favored stronger state govts
Feared the lack of Bill of Rights – their strongest argument
Leaders: Henry, Mason, Gerry
Federalists (p.44-45)
Supporters: property owners, creditors, merchants
Elites most fit to govern
Feared “excesses” of democracy
Favored strong central government
Leaders: Hamilton, Madison, Washington, Jay
Federalist advantages (p. 51)
Were better represented in state legislatures
Controlled the press
Began ratification procedures quickly before Antifederalists could get organized
Agreed to a Bill of Rights after ratification of the Constitution
The Federalist Papers: Madison, Hamilton, and Jay. To rally support for ratification of the Constitution
Ratification, 1788: by state ratifying conventions of popularly-elected delegates 10