embers compete with each other [in terms of] . . . jockeying for more benefits rather than as a major threat to elite cohesion or to the status quo (Welch et al. 16).
There is simply no doubt whatsoever that the 39 rich, white men who made the Constitution national law were members of a small elite. None of the men were poor or without property. None were black. With respect to women, Welch writes, "Independence did not bring any improvement in the political rights of women" (Welch et al. 27). In fact, some women had the right to vote before the Constitution, a right they lost officially with the enactment of the Constitution (Welch et al. 27). No mention is made in the texts of any consideration to give the vote to any group but white males, nor of any consideration that any but white males would hold office. To support the argument that not all rich, white men supported the Constitution, Welch uses the example of Elbridge Gerry, "one of the richest men in the country." However, earlier, Welch quotes Gerry as
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