The drafting of the U.S. Constitution is one of the most critical events in the country’s history. However, despite the admitted significance of the event, there are different perspectives on the reasons for the document’s drafting. Thus, the causes for writing the Constitution can be viewed through three lenses: social, economic, and political. Each of these perspectives can help bring to light a variety of factors that influenced the draft and explain the complex historical contexts of early America.
The social lens helps understand momentous events through the interactions of different groups and individuals with each other and within their groups. Thus, James Madison’s communication with Richard Henry Lee, an opponent of the Constitution, can help explain how public opinion was influenced in the 18th century (Labunski, 2006). As Lee was a member of an influential Virginian family and was widely respected in society, Madison worried that public opinion on the Constitution would be skewed by Lee’s reception and amendments he proposed (Labunski, 2006). Overall, the social lens allows historians to recognize how public opinion shaped various policies and laws and affected the country.
The reasons behind the drafting of the Constitution can be understood through the economic lens. Specifically, the local and national economy of early America should be considered. Correspondence between Richard Henry Lee and James Madison shows the issue of taxes being discussed with the national government having little power over taxation in the free states (Lee, 1784). Thus, the new country was vulnerable to debts, and its currency held little value, resulting in the need for new taxation laws and the Constitution.
The political lens helps explain how legislation was passed in the past and how it affected the country’s citizens. The first major document that governed early America was the agreement known as the Articles of Confederation (Amar, 1998). However, it only allowed one vote for one state, regardless of its population, and required all thirteen states to approve any amendments to the Articles (Labunski, 2006). Thus, as political unanimity was rare, the national government was ineffective.
The social, economic, and political lenses on the drafting of the Constitution help understand the historical context within which the document was created and the numerous causes for it. Nevertheless, the social lens presents an interesting angle on the event. The accounts of the Philadelphia Convention often focus on the economic and political reasons for writing a new governing document. The social perspective helps to understand the subjective motives of the authors of the U.S. Constitution in writing the manuscript, how public opinion was shaped and how it influenced the draft.
It can be argued that history and one’s view of it can be very subjective. The knowledge of the significant historical events is rebuilt from personal accounts and documents passed down through generations. However, they can be misinterpreted due to personal beliefs and biases. For instance, a historian interested in the economic reasons for drafting the Constitution is more likely to disregard other causes or believe they are less important. History can be told from many different perspectives, and it is crucial to consider them all to get a better understanding of the past.
Researching a historical topic can undoubtedly help better understand many of the contemporary issues. Specifically, studying the drafting of the U.S. Constitution helped me realize how many stakeholders any political issue has. In addition, public opinion can be crucial for passing new legislation but can be easily manipulated by employing the people the public respects to support or reject the proposed changes. For example, gun control issues, abortion, and climate change remain highly debated topics in the country, with many people stating their opinions on these matters to influence others. However, it is crucial to determine who the main stakeholders are and how a definitive federal law on such an issue as abortion will affect society, the economy, healthcare, and other sectors.
In summary, I think every citizen’s responsibility is to know and understand their country’s history to ensure that it does not repeat itself. Knowing what motivations the politicians of previous generations had and what historical contexts influenced them can help us understand the current issues and evaluate the context in which we live today. I believe history can often repeat itself if people are ignorant of it. James Madison and other authors of the document were very aware of the mistakes the British government made in managing the colonies and the deficiencies of the Articles of the Confederation. As they knew their past, they were able to create a document that remains relevant to this day.
References
Amar, A. R. (1998). The Bill of Rights: Creation and reconstruction. Yale University Press.
Labunski, R. (2006). James Madison and the struggle for the Bill of Rights. Oxford University Press.
Lee, R. H. (1784). To James Madison from Richard Henry Lee, 26 November 1784. Founders Online. Web.