Beard claims that the real economic forces behind the constitution included the need for the following, taxation, international trade, a national militant force, protection for industry, and a nationally unity regarding the form of money (coin, paper). The need for taxation basically stems from the state and national deficits that had been acquired during the Revolutionary War. These debts were enormous and under the Articles of Confederation the national government could not collect

Beard’s sources lead him to the conclusions he draws. This however may not be his fault. In the introduction written by Forrest McDonald he states that, “it was not until after World War II that the holdings in the archives become conveniently accessible to many researchers.” He is basically stating that no matter how hard Beard researched there were certain documents he could not obtain to use towards his book. This information might have changed his monograph slightly as there could have been more documents about the assets people held and how the poor people felt. Beard comes right out and states that, “In the present state of our historical materials…all that can be attempted here is a superficial commentary on some of the outward aspects for the movement for the Constitution…” Here he is coming out and saying that is sources are inadequate. Another statement by McDonald informs that, “Because earlier historians had so neglected those realities [economic], and also because the primary source materials were so difficult of access, Beard’s study was necessarily somewhat simplistic and uninformed.” I believe that this statement sums up his work quite well. His sources did lead him to his conclusions as there really were not many from farmers, poor, or slaves. Most of his primary documents were those of the rich and those who were delegates of the Constitutional Convention. Beard himself admits that, “the materials for such a study are very scanty…” He does not deny the fact that this book is simply a start or that there were not many materials open to him. So although his sources lead him to his conclusions he makes, he is aware of it. He also makes the reader aware of this which shows that he is certain many things in his study are imperfect.

Many people supported the idea of a new and more fortified government. Most of who were those who could not find answers to their problems under the Articles of Confederation. Beard describes these people as, “those of public securities, shipping and manufacturing, money at interest; in short, capital as opposed to land.” Merchants and businessmen were for the constitution because they wanted protection from international competition. Beard states, “That innumerable manufacturing, shipping, trading, and commercial interests did… look upon the adoption of the Constitution as the sure guarantee that protection could be procured against foreign competition, is fully evidenced in the memorials laid before Congress in April, May, and June, 1789, asking for the immediate enactment of discriminatory tariff laws.” These tariffs, as mentioned above, protected manufactures because it made foreign good more expensive than ones that could be found in America. Collecting tariffs also helped the national government pay off their large deficit as the money from tariffs was paid to the government and they used it thusly. Those who had securities supported the movement for a constitution because it forbids the states to, “impair the obligation of contract.” This gave offered security holders a guarantee that the states could not make their securities wor

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