Constitution preserved social hierarchy of the time

Much conversation revolves around the ideals of the United States as the Founding Fathers enshrined them in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, but the two documents served different and not overlapping purposes.

The Declaration of Independence is a promotional and sales document written to solicit widespread support for separation from the United Kingdom whereas the Constitution was a document to create exclusive social and political power for the founders. These men were economic and political leaders in the colonies and wanted to remain as such.

That required creating a constitution that embedded the existing social hierarchy in stone: White males only; all others had no existence in their system nor would they ever. Native Americans were removed from traditional lands and many of the political elites were land speculators who made fortunes by selling the land to white settlers. Slaves were the personal property of their owners who could treat them as they wanted.

The social hierarchy they codified for white males had the elites totally in charge, white propertied men the next rung down, all other white men on the third rung. Then came women and children who were controlled by the males in their lives. Women could not vote, own property, or take part in legal actions.

When former U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia spoke of being an originalist in constitutional matters, this is what he meant. Many other male elites think it might be a deal worth having. Renate Reeves-ellington

Delmar