Charles Beard and the Constitution: A Critical Analysis of An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution

by Robert E. Brown

In this work, Robert E. Brown applies the fruits of modern historical scholarship toward an understanding of Beard's groundbreaking and controversial work. With a perspective of forty years, Brown attempts to separate the valid from the bogus in this work.

Genres: History, American History

228 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1965

Reviews

[David]

An awful attempt to prove the Beardian analysis of the Constitution wrong to the great absurdity of Brown's work. His earlier Middle-Class Democracy in Massachusetts also attempts to attack Beard, despite discussing pre-US Massachusetts nearly 20 years before the Constitution was even written! Brown does not better in this work: his contention that Beard relies more on secondary sources rather than primary ignores the lack of material Beard had at his disposal in 1913, while intentionally dismissing the vast amount of primary material that Beard does draw upon; the accusation that he "draws conclusions from evidence he himself admitted did not exist" ignores the evidence that does exist presented by Beard. Brown devoted his career to disproving the Beardian thesis on the Constitution, and failed miserably at every turn.

[Steven Peterson]

Charles Beard raised an economic interpretation of the development of the Constitution a century ago. This book, published many decades later, takes exception to Beard's thesis, outlining problems with his interpretation. This, plus a critique by Forrest MacDonald, provided a counterweight to Beard. Examining the various works together provides rich context on the origins of the Constitution.