Charles Beard and Three Barbie Dolls

25 Pages Posted: 8 Mar 2015

See all articles by Calvin H. Johnson

Calvin H. Johnson

University of Texas at Austin - School of Law

Date Written: March 8, 2015

Abstract

In his famous Economic Interpretation, Charles Beard inappropriately imposed a progressive critique of politics and the Supreme Court of his own times upon the adoption of the Constitution. First, Beard argued that the Constitution in apportionment of tax tried to prevent an assault on wealth, whereas the founders were trying to reach wealth by tax under their apportionment formula. Secondly, the Constitution is predominantly a debtor document to restore the ability to borrow and not a suppression of debtors. Federalist 10, finally, is not anti-democratic, but is a proof that the national government would better protect individual rights than the states had, within the ideals of the Revolution.

Suggested Citation

Johnson, Calvin Harsha, Charles Beard and Three Barbie Dolls (March 8, 2015). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2575374 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2575374

Calvin Harsha Johnson (Contact Author)

University of Texas at Austin - School of Law ( email )

727 East Dean Keeton Street
Austin, TX 78705
United States
512-232-1306 (Phone)
512-232-2399 (Fax)

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