Final answer:
Charles Beard is the historian who suggested an economic interpretation of the Constitution, positing that support and opposition along economic lines were influenced by interests in commerce and agriculture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The American historian who advanced an economic interpretation of the Constitution is Charles Beard. In 1913, Beard's analysis presented the creation and ratification of the U.S. Constitution through the lens of economic interests.
He suggested the divide in support for the Constitution fell along economic lines, where wealthy property holders typically supported it, and the less affluent, particularly rural farmers, tended to oppose it.
According to Beard, this was not simply a case of "haves" versus "have-nots"; urban Americans of all classes favored the Constitution, seeing it as a boon to commerce and business, while rural Americans, both rich and poor, were generally against it due to their belief that it did not represent their agrarian interests.