An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of The United States - by Charles a Beard (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

First published in 1913, Beard's iconoclastic masterwork sparked a deep historical debate that has not abated. Scrutinizing the Constitution in light of economic forces, he proposed for the first time that this politico-legal document was shaped by a group of men whose commercial interests were best served by its provisions. One hundred years later, An Economic Interpretation continues to stand the test of time, raising important questions about commercial and political power and generating radical new insights into our laws and our economy.

Review Quotes

"Here again is the original constitutional skeptic to remind Americans that our republic's authors had not only intellects but interests. Charles Beard set out to jolt his contemporaries out of their pious admiration of the constitution's framers. His economic interpretation remains a lively, surprisingly humorous and sharp-witted analysis of the nation's beginnings. Reading it today, the book aims a keen and pointed thrust at the originalism of our own age."

About the Author

Charles A. Beard (1874-1948) is considered one of the most influential American historians in the first half of the twentieth century. Some of his works include Economic Origins of Jeffersonian Democracy, and The Administration and Politics of Tokyo.