Introduction

Leading up to the Constitutional Convention, and reacting to the events of Shays' Rebellion, Hamilton (who supported the republic) made clear his distrust for democracy.

Source:
Howard Zinn, A People's History of the United States, New York: Harper Collins, 2003, p. 96.

"All communities divide themselves into the few and the many. The first are the rich and well-born, the other the mass of the people. The voice of the people has been said to be the voice of God; and however generally this maxim has been quoted and believed, it is not true in fact. The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right. Give therefore to the first class a distinct permanent share in the government....Can a democratic assembly who annually revolve in the mass of the people be supposed steadily to pursue the public good? Nothing but a permanent body can check the imprudence of democracy...."