How did the founding fathers feel about corporations?

[killersheep]

It's pretty clear most of the founding fathers views on the responsibilities and scope of authority of state and local governments. What was their view on corporations though? I am not positing a theory, just looking for some evidence and/or opinion.

[Gandalf]

Obviously the concept of the corporation as it exists today would have been alien to the founders of modern America. Corporations were in their infancy at the time. I believe corporate purchasing of political influence was deemed criminal in most states and clearly a government run by and for the people would never grant a corporation the same rights as an individual. The founding fathers would likely look on current day America as a bastardization of their ideals. In some ways I respect early white America, it was idealistic and in many ways what later day America has railed against in other nations. 'Government by and for the people? That John Adams is god damn socialist!' rails George W. Bush after a mid morning prayer during which he asked God why he has no viewpoints on the role of corporations within the abusive globalised era.

[VictorCharlie]

I think Jefferson would more than likely feel that a business has the right to take part in the political process when the outcome of that process will affect how that business is run. This really just circles back around to limited scope of government though. If the government is kept sufficiently limited and cannot largely affect business then corporations won't need to take part in the political process. The founding fathers were very suspect of political parties. It is interesting to consider how our political process would work if we didn't have them.

[CFH]

Interesting topic. I have fuck all to contribute though .

[Kirkland Laing]

“I hope that we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.”

Thomas Jefferson



“Banks have done more injury to the religion, morality, tranquility, prosperity, and even wealth of the nation than they can have done or ever will do good.”

John Adams



Not a Founder, but

“The money powers prey upon the nation in times of peace and conspire against it in times of adversity. The banking powers are more despotic than a monarchy, more insolent than autocracy, more selfish than bureaucracy. They denounce as public enemies all who question their methods or throw light upon their crimes. I have two great enemies, the Southern Army in front of me and the bankers in the rear. Of the two, the one at my rear is my greatest foe.”

Abraham Lincoln


After the nation’s founding, corporations were granted charters by the state as they are today. Unlike today, however, corporations were only permitted to exist 20 or 30 years and could only deal in one commodity, could not hold stock in other companies, and their property holdings were limited to what they needed to accomplish their business goals. And perhaps the most important facet of all this is that most states in the early days of the nation had laws on the books that made any political contribution by corporations a criminal offense.

What The Founding Fathers Thought About Corporations | Addicting Info

[Master]

Governments should keep business in check from exploiting the public. I think corporations do unduly influence the political process in their favour, so the Founding Fathers may feel disappointed about how democracy has developed in the US.

[VictorCharlie]

I knew that article was going to be posted. Could you have found a less subjective article on the topic? How about one that spends more than half on the actual founders or at least one that doesn't have factual inaccuracies?

It is fair to say the founders experience with businesses such as the East India Company made them leery of corporate power growing into political power. When the founders writings are viewed comprehensively and not cherry picked for quotes you clearly see a desire for small/limited government based on a system of strong state governments and individual liberties. Their take on corporations would have more than likely been similar to what our separation of church and state has evolved to in order to maximize freedom and limit influence. They would have wanted to keep business and politics separate but that is a two way street.

As long as we are doing quotes though, how about the mantra of American colonies that spurred our independence.

"No taxation w/o representation."

[El Kabong]

The Founding Fathers believed that land OWNERS had the right to vote as they had "skin in the game"....I think they'd frown upon what has happened recently. Also people these days have no idea what liberty or rights mean....healthcare a right? Pfffft ridiculous.

[pacfan]

They'd be aghast, I'm sure. The unholy collusion of Business and Politicians (government) in a perfectly corrupted system... but ... which brought about unprecendent development and prosperity to the country. I wonder if a perfectly clean political-economic system would've done better; I have my doubts...