--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: During elections for the 1776 convention…" description: "\"“During elections for the 1776 convention to frame a constitution for Pennsylvania, a Privates Committee urged voters to oppose “great and overgrown ri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1f/howard-zinn-576_bill-of-rights_during-elections-for-the-1776-convention_433503.jpg" --- # During elections for the 1776 convention to frame a… ![“During elections for the 1776 convention to frame a constitution for Pennsylvania, a Privates Committee urged voters to oppose “great and overgrown rich men . . . they will be too apt to be framing distinctions in society.” The Privates Committee drew up a bill of rights for the convention…” quote by Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1f/howard-zinn-576_bill-of-rights_during-elections-for-the-1776-convention_433503.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1f/howard-zinn-576_bill-of-rights_during-elections-for-the-1776-convention_433503.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1f/howard-zinn-576_bill-of-rights_during-elections-for-the-1776-convention_433503.jpg) > ““During elections for the 1776 convention to frame a constitution for Pennsylvania, a Privates Committee urged voters to oppose “great and overgrown rich men . . . they will be too apt to be framing distinctions in society.” The Privates Committee drew up a bill of rights for the convention, including the statement that “an enormous proportion of property vested in a few individuals is dangerous to the rights, and destructive of the common happiness, of mankind; and therefore every free state hath a right by its laws to discourage the possession of such property.”” [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that concentrated wealth threatens equality and public welfare, urging legal limits on extreme property accumulation. **In simple terms:** Too much property in few hands harms society. Key Takeaway Support policies limiting extreme wealth. Themes wealth inequality political power social justice Mood critical reflective Type political historical When to use this quote - legislative debates - public policy design - wealth taxation - community activism Key Concepts property rights democratic theory economic concentration Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance wealth creation with equality? - What limits on property are justified? A Different Perspective It may overlook benefits of wealth-driven investment and innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bill of rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bill-of-rights/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution Pennsylvania](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-pennsylvania-3448045/) [Dangerous Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-rights-3446051/) [Frame Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frame-constitution-318473/) [Privates Committee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privates-committee-3816724/) [Rich men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-men/) [Society Privates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-privates-3816725/) ## Related quotes > [“During elections for the 1776 convention to frame a constitution for Pennsylvania, a Privates Committee urged voters to oppose “great and overgrown rich men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/during-elections-for-the-1776-convention-to-frame-a-constitution-for-2/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [an enormous proportion of property vested in a few individuals is dangerous to the rights, and destructive of the common happiness of mankind, and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/an-enormous-proportion-of-property-vested-in-a-few-individuals-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The provision of the Constitution giving the war making power to Congress was dictated, as I understand it, by the following reasons: Kings had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-provision-of-the-constitution-giving-the-war-making-power-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We trace the hand of the Almighty in framing the constitution of our land, and believe that the Lord raised up men purposely for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzo-snow/we-trace-the-hand-of-the-almighty-in-framing-the-constitution-of-our/) [Lorenzo Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzo-snow/) > [“It would be hard to point out any error more truly subversive of all the order and beauty, all the peace and happiness, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/it-would-be-hard-to-point-out-any-error-more-truly-subversive-of-all/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [Divorce is the cheapest thing in Pakistan. 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