Before the Constitution

Interest Groups from 1763-1789

Abstract

The movement for American independence from Great Britain was closely associated with interest group activity, and cannot wholly be understood without reference to the phenomenon. This association is documented with reference to a consistent definition of "interest group." Lesser known is the role that interest groups played in the movement to adopt a new constitution. Still, this paper argues, the growth of interest group activity during this era seemingly would have happened, although perhaps to a lesser extent, even without these movements.