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Economic Interest behind the 1st Nationalist Movement: 1783

Author

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  • John Lovett

    (Department of Economics, Texas Christian University)

Abstract

There is a strong tradition of examining the economic motivation behind the drafting and ratification of the U.S. Constitution. The constitutional movement, however, was not the first attempt at a stronger central government. This paper investigates the economic and geographic interests behind the “first nationalist movement”, a 1783 drive to strengthen the Articles of Confederation that very nearly succeeded. A voting index, based on stated nationalist agenda, is constructed for delegates to the Congress. This index is regressed on state level data individual characteristics of each delegate. The results indicate that, despite this being period of relative unity (peace but not yet a peace treaty), much of nationalist support is explained by economic and geographic interests. Nationalist tend to be from populous states with few disputed land claims and little foreign trade. There is weaker evidence that state debt and being near the frontier made delegates more nationalist.

Suggested Citation

  • John Lovett, 2010. "Economic Interest behind the 1st Nationalist Movement: 1783," Working Papers 201006, Texas Christian University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:tcu:wpaper:201007
    as

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    File URL: http://www.econ.tcu.edu/RePEc/tcu/wpaper/wp10-06.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2010
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. McGuire, Robert A. & Ohsfeldt, Robert L., 1984. "Economic Interests and the American Constitution: A Quantitative Rehabilitation of Charles A. Beard," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 44(2), pages 509-519, June.
    2. Anonymous, 1985. "Selected Writings and Speeches of Alexander Hamilton. Edited by Morton J. Frisch. (Washington, D.C.: American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, 1985. Pp. xiv + 524. $25.95, cloth; $14.9," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 79(4), pages 1273-1273, December.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    US history; nationalist movement; constitution; articles of confederation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N41 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • H10 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - General

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