Summary Of The General Argument By Robert Shalhope
The General Argument made by Robert E. Shalhope in The Constitution and the Competing Political Cultures of Late-Eighteenth-Century America is that leading up to the 1787 Constitutional Convention there was political tension between the Federalist and Antifederalist about how the country would be governed. More Specifically, Shalhope argues that the Federalist thought that educated people should run the government and that the central government should have more power. While the Anti Federalists argued that the common people should be elected into the government, wealth should be widespread amongst the population, and that the state government should have more powers. The Federalists were mainly wealthy merchants and upper class men who have
seen much of the United states through trade. They believed that only the well educated should run the government and that anyone can rise the ladder through hard work. Before the 1787 Constitutional Convention the Federalist were beginning to lose popularity to the Anti Federalists. Common people, mostly farmers in the inland of the united states, who believed that you didn't need to be wealthy to be a part of the government. They wanted the people to have a direct say in the government, they wanted to get rid of debt, and make weath widespread. They believed that “The government is not a government of the people because only the rich and well born would gain election”(Shalhope 169). And they wanted to change that idea. Although the Federalists tried to appeal to the common people they continued to lose popularity leading up to the reform of the government. They wanted to create a central government dominated by federalists. While the Antifederalists wanted to create a system that allowed local people to get elected. Although the most of the people wanted to have a government dominated by Antifederalists. Shalhope states that the majority of the people invited to go to the Constitutional convention were federalists. The electoral college and the large central government we have were used to keep Antifederalists out of the government. In conclusion Shalhope believes that the Federalists created a government that did not appeal to the Common people, but it is still the system we use today.
seen much of the United states through trade. They believed that only the well educated should run the government and that anyone can rise the ladder through hard work. Before the 1787 Constitutional Convention the Federalist were beginning to lose popularity to the Anti Federalists. Common people, mostly farmers in the inland of the united states, who believed that you didn't need to be wealthy to be a part of the government. They wanted the people to have a direct say in the government, they wanted to get rid of debt, and make weath widespread. They believed that “The government is not a government of the people because only the rich and well born would gain election”(Shalhope 169). And they wanted to change that idea. Although the Federalists tried to appeal to the common people they continued to lose popularity leading up to the reform of the government. They wanted to create a central government dominated by federalists. While the Antifederalists wanted to create a system that allowed local people to get elected. Although the most of the people wanted to have a government dominated by Antifederalists. Shalhope states that the majority of the people invited to go to the Constitutional convention were federalists. The electoral college and the large central government we have were used to keep Antifederalists out of the government. In conclusion Shalhope believes that the Federalists created a government that did not appeal to the Common people, but it is still the system we use today.