The Spirit of American Government A Study Of The Constitution: Its Origin, Influence And Relation To Democracy

"The Spirit of American Government" by J. Allen Smith is a historical exploration of the U.S. Constitution's beginnings and its effect on American democracy. Smith argues that the Constitution, created in a time of political tension, was built to keep power in the hands of a few rather than create true democracy. The book shows how the framers' worries about the general population and desire to limit their influence led to undemocratic parts in the Constitution that still shape American governance today. The book highlights how things like property requirements for voting and the history of slavery made the constitutional system complicated, The book challenges people to rethink how truly democratic the U.S. government is.