How did the us promote general welfare in 1800s?

The US of the 1800's was very different. Remember it wasn't until 1920 that half of Americans lived in a city. So the majority of Americans had access to the means to grow their own food, resources to build their own shelter, and access to water. It was fairly close to being a cashless society. read more

A general welfare clause is a section that appeared in many constitutions, as well as in some charters and statutes, which provides that the governing body empowered by the document may enact laws to promote the general welfare of the people, sometimes worded as the public welfare. In some countries, this has been used as a basis for legislation promoting the health, safety, morals, and well-being of the people governed thereunder. read more