From the Beginning:
Early American Resistance to the Capitalist Policies of Alexander Hamilton
A 5 week study and discussion with Jim Costanzo, founder & director of the Aaron Burr Society
Mondays, March 11—April 8
7:30 – 9:30 Pm @ The Brooklyn Commons
Was the U.S. Constitution a betrayal of the American Revolution? Did the founders intentionally frame the Constitution to establish a financial aristocracy based on patriarchy and white supremacy?
Following independence, there were five armed rebellions against the newly formed Republic in response to debt, financial speculation and foreclosures. This course will examine how the working classes, small farmers and veterans of the revolution organized to address grievances against the rise of American capitalism. Though different, the 21st Century’s Great Recession is a continuation of the ongoing struggles against capital formation, debt and democratic processes. The concentration of economic power was built into the Constitution and enhanced by Hamilton who imposed different forms of British capitalism upon the former colonies that had just rebelled against those policies. Appropriating the Collective Wealth of the Nation to establish an aristocracy is reflected in the phrase “too much democracy” which is often associated with the French Revolution but was popular since the end of the American Revolution. This aristocratic phrase is applicable today with radical return of gerrymandering and voter suppression.This five-week study and discussion will explore the political economy behind post-colonial American class struggles.
The main book for this class will be Founding Finance: How Debt, Speculation, Foreclosures, Protests and Crackdowns Made Us a Nation by William Hogeland. Other references will be from various sources that will include my original research from the Pittsburgh Gazette from 1789 to 1803. Another book will be referenced but not required is Fallen Founder: the Life of Aaron Burr by Nancy Isenberg.
The Aaron Burr Society: Since 2008 the Aaron Burr Society has been dedicated to exposing the myths of the Free Market and Free Trade. Wall Street and their Corporate Cronies use myths in order to subvert the Sovereignty of The People in an attempt to usurp the Collective Wealth of the Nation. In addition to financial derivatives and other fraudulent monetary policies, they divert your tax money for their profits while privatizing public programs, like education, designed to promote universal prosperity. Wall Street and their cronies make billions in bonuses and trillions in subsidies while we the people, our nation and the world goes bankrupt. The real reason for the escalation of personal and national debt are the crimes committed by Wall Street and conservative politicians of both parties.The Society maintains relationships with individuals and organizations from Occupy Wall Street. However, the crisis of capitalism has morphed and expanded by embracing 21st century forms of authoritarianism and corporate fascism.
Suggested donations are sliding scale. No one turned away for inability to pay