Final answer:
The main difference between Thomas's and Appleby's views lies in the emphasis on democratic principles versus economic interests influencing the Constitution. Thomas reflects an idealistic view, with a focus on the consent of the governed, while Appleby (and Beard) points to economic motives behind the Constitution's creation and ratification.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major difference between Thomas's and Appleby's historical interpretations of influences on the Constitution centers on the perceived influences and motivations behind its creation. While historian Gordon S. Wood, in the spirit of Thomas Jefferson, suggests the Constitution was shaped by the idealistic principles of democracy and representation, ensuring that "the consent of the governed was the only true source of political authority," historian Charles Beard, echoing Appleby's views, presented an economic interpretation, asserting that the Constitution was influenced by the personal financial interests of its framers. According to Beard, there was an economic divide in the ratification debate, with urban Americans, both rich and poor, favoring the Constitution due to its potential to boost commerce, while many rural Americans, regardless of their wealth, opposed it fearing it might not benefit the agrarian lifestyle.