Beard presented an innovative monograph in 1913 when his book, An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States, was first printed by the Free Press of New York, New York. He stated in the preface of the first publication that he wanted to encourage others, "to turn away from barren "political" history to a study of the real economic forces which condition great movements in politics." He supported this thesis of an "economic interpretation" with detailed factual knowledge about the economic standing of the state and national governments, along with information about the members of the Constitutional Convention and how their life's and assets influenced the way in which the constitution was written.
Beard claims that the real economic forces behind the constitution included the need for the following, taxation, international trade, a national militant force, protection for industry, and a nationally unity regarding the form of money (coin, paper). The need for taxation basically stems from the state and national deficits that had been acquired during the Revolutionary War. These debts were enormous and under the Articles of Confederation the national government could not collect taxes, this power granted to the states. As Congress was unable to require people to pay taxes they could only urge the states to collect them. However, this system had difficulties as the government asked repeatedly for taxes to be raised without results. Therefore, members of Congress began asking that this power be granted to them. For example Beard states that, "In February, 1781, Congress recommended to the states that they vest in the national legislature a power to levy a duty to pay the principal and interest of the debt. In April, 1783, Congress again appealed to the states for authority to lay duties for the purpose of supplying a revenue with which to discharge the debt.
