The men who wrote the Constitution did not envision the active and continuing involvement of ordinary citizens in affairs of state. Describe the various ways in which ordinary citizens became involved in political concerns. Be sure to include how the concepts of liberty and freedom were used (refer to “Voices of Freedom”) from 1790 to 1815.
Answers
Answer:
There was significant variance in opinion among the Framers on this question. Some of the attendees at the Philadelphia Convention, George Mason from Virginia in particular, argued that the Presidency and the Senate should be chosen by the popular vote.
But the Framers in general did not trust the ability of ordinary Americans—at least non-property owners—to make reasoned, intelligent decisions about politics. However, Americans were always involved in political affairs. One example of this was the ratification process for the Constitution itself. Americans read the Constitution as well as the various commentaries written on it. They publicly debated its measures in taverns and other forums, and sometimes brawled with their opponents. In many states, ordinary Americans voted for delegates to their ratification conventions. There was even a phrase used by political elites to describe the political actions of ordinary people—politics "out of doors."