Constitution Quote by Lincoln Steffens
“I hunted far enough to suspect that the Fathers of the Republic who wrote our Sacred Constitution of the United States not only did not, but did not want to, establish a democratic government.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The American Constitution, 1905
The founders of the US Constitution may have intentionally avoided establishing a true democracy.
In simple terms: Founders possibly wanted a non‑democratic system.
Key Takeaway
Question the intentions behind political structures.
Themes
politics
history
democracy
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- civic education
- policy analysis
- public debate
Key Concepts
republicanism
constitutional intent
political theory
Questions to Reflect On
- Did the founders intend to limit popular rule?
- How does this perspective affect modern democracy?
A Different Perspective
The Constitution includes democratic elements that contradict this view.
![“The Constitution of our country [was] formed by the Fathers of liberty... Exalt the standard of Democracy! Down with that of priestcraft, and let all the people say Amen! that the blood of our fathers may not cry from the ground against us. Sacred is the memory of that blood which bought for us…” quote by Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e0a/joseph-smith-jr-1647_amen_the-constitution-of-our-country-was-form_3120231.jpg)
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
