The U.S. Constitution: 'Coup d'état by the rich'

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This month marks the 200th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. In previous issues, Socialist Action has printed several articles related to this event, and several readers and supporters have The following contribution is by Victor Saxe, a writer in the San Francisco Bay Area and a former college professor who has specialized in American One of the greatest secrets of United States history is that George Washington and his Society of Cincinnati BOUd ** (composed of army officers who had served under him in the War for Independence), James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and other "great heroes" of the time were traitors who overthrew the legal U.S.

Who were the delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787? At least 16 could be classed as aristocrats—including Washington. Ten were extremely wealthy and about 10 others either had been very rich or were well on the way. About the same number again could be classed as "well-to-do," and about 16 others as How did it all begin? What prompted the men of Merrill Jensen, an expert on the period of the first wealth and privilege to take the initial steps toward constitution, the Articles of Confederation, was the first treason? Only six months earlier, an event occurred in historian to consistently use the terms "coup d'état" and Massachusetts. Farmers in the western part of the state complained of heavy taxes, the shortage of money, Jensen believed that the Articles of Confederation private debts, and the high fees incident to court suits. were a constitutional expression of the Declaration of The courts had also been sending many to debtors' Independence, which had done away with centralized prison, so the farmers got a large group together and prevented the courts from sitting. But the governor In his book "The Articles of Confederation" called out the militia to disperse them. The farmers were (University of Wisconsin Press, 1963), Jensen wrote: led by Daniel Shays, who had distinguished himself as a "This government, the product of the forces which brought about the American Revolution, failed not After a single volley of fire from the militia, the because it was inadequate but because the radicals failed farmers turned and ran. Shays' Rebellion, as it was to maintain the organization they had created to bring But Shays' Rebellion caused concern among people of On the other hand, Jensen stated, the conservatives means: "Our affairs seem to lead to some crisis, some who dominated the Constitutional Convention "wanted revolution, something Feannot foresee or conjecture," sent us their own commentaries.

history in recent years. government in a coup d'état.

"comfortable."

"treason."

government.

about the American Revolution."

called, was over. 1987. Lázaro Cárdenas, then president of Mexico, had granted Site of Philadelphia convention in 1787.

essence of the British imperial the American states."

Rebellion in Massachusetts captain during the Revolutionary War. apprehensive; more so than during the war."

than three years in any term of six years."

selected them. Each state had only one vote. would be supported by taxes.

How did the York and North Carolina. voters.

changes to the legal constitution.

it to become legal. people lose?