5 Questions
What was a concern of Alexander Hamilton and Elbridge Gerry at the Constitutional Convention in 1787?
The rising influence of ordinary citizens on government
What government did Alexander Hamilton consider 'the best in the world' in 1787?
The British government
What was the reason for the 'evils' experienced by the government, according to Elbridge Gerry?
An excess of democracy
Who was the editor of the publication that recorded the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention in 1787?
Max Farrand
What was the title of the publication that recorded the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention in 1787?
The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787
Study Notes
Early U.S. Politics
- Ordinary citizens had a significant influence on government at the local level, but this worried the founding elites.
Fear of Democracy
- Alexander Hamilton warned of the "vices of democracy" during the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
- He considered the British government, with its powerful king and parliament, "the best in the world."
Concerns about Excess Democracy
- Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, a convention delegate, believed that the "evils we experience flow from an excess of democracy."
- He eventually refused to sign the finished Constitution due to his concerns.
This quiz is about the opinions and concerns of the founding elites, particularly Alexander Hamilton, during the Constitutional Convention of 1787. It discusses their views on democracy and the British government.
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