Classic Liberalism

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The constitution of 1787 has been described as one that catered to the “well-bred, the well-fed, the well-read and the well-wed”, deeming it to be a document designed to enhance the lives of the few, not the many. What can be said however is that the constitution was written to change, and enhance a fledgling system that aimed “to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity”. The document in question is not so much geared towards how fast things ought to change, but rather how things ought to be, placing it firmly in the category of classic liberalism, as opposed to essentially conservative.…show more content…
The drafters of the Constitution were generally educated statesmen, as well as notable businessmen, who exerted their influence on the constitution through classic liberal principles. One of the ideological challenges within pre-constitution American lay in the differences in opinion between Loyalists, such as Benjamin Franklin's son, William Franklin, and people that had more of a diminished relationship with Britain and its colonial hierarchy. The desire for a change in governance however, had been confirmed through the American Revolution and the framework for governance was to follow under liberal pretences. The colonial subjects regarded themselves as having the same freedoms and political rights as Englishmen, connoted by articles such as the Magna Carta. The Constitution was liberally radical in the senses that none of the ideas involved have ever been tried before, and all pre-constitution rules were subordinate to British royalty. The ideal of a democratic nation was a radical, liberal emerging idea given the period of…show more content…
Under Articles 2 and 3 for example , a document was drafted with powers subordinated to the ‘three branches of government’, executive, legislative, and judicial, with each branch scrutinizing each other with a system of checks and balances in order to prevent despotism and dictatorship. Particular attention can be given to Article 2 Section 4 of the constitution whereas “The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanours”, a notion that can be considered liberal, radical and realistic at the time. This idea aligns itself with the notion that this system of governance is radical, liberal and self-regulating, external from any degree of foreign influence. The notion of conservativeness within this document cannot be noted under these

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