You really should do your homework on that to find out what they meant. Hint, it ain't what you think. All big government people, mostly Democrats use that line to justify every single usurpation of rights and every govt. program.
That's not socialism in the democratic sense, but taking into account the interests of the citizens. The Forefathers certainly understood that.
The way they wanted to promote the genearal welfare was by having a free society with free trade and all the blessings that come with it. All the citizens are better off if all the citizens are free.
You really must stop trying to deny history, no one will believe anything you say otherwise.
I never deny history, I disabuse people like you of erronous notions about it.
Now that's what I call twisting history to suit an agenda. The "general welfare" line was more just than the Bill of Rights, but pertained to the functioning of society overall so it wouldn't become unglued. Yes government's role is to protect our rights, but also our interests. That's why we have a national defense, or a Federal Reserve. But I suppose you think those are anti-freedom policies too right?