chapter 5 the american revolution

political developments within the states

republicanism

• government by the consent of the governed
• 1763- colonial assemblies had substantial power, most white men could vote
• once allegiance to the crown was repudiated republicanism became the only acceptable system of political values
• provides philosophical underpinning
• offers legitimacy for government and authority
• application of principles rested on the central proposition of popular sovereignty

the transition from colonies to states

• 1774-5 - most colonial assemblies reconstituted as provincial conventions
• congress dithered when asked whether it would recommend colonies drawing up new constitutions
• some states changed their constitutions before congress decided
• may 1776- congress adopted a resolution calling on all states that did not have a permanent constitution based on popular sovereignty to adopt one
• discussed the possibility of drafting a uniform model constitution, however Adams's view prevailed
• 1776-1780 - all but 2 states adopted new constitutions
• Rhode Island and Connecticut merely revised their colonial charters deleting all reference to royal authority
• new constitutions embodied the principles of republicanism
• reflected the balance of political power at the time of its writing
• honest attempt by men of good faith to find the best way forward
• americans wanted effective government
• concerned about the dangers of excessive authority which they had convinced themselves was conspiring to destroy their liberty

elitists vs democrats

• americans had to decide what type of government the new states should have and who should be allowed to vote and hold office
• debated in newspapers, pamphlets, legislative chambers, committee rooms, pubs and homes
• elitists- men who had led the assemblies
• felt that while governments should maintain liberty, they must also preserve order
• feared that too much democracy might generate unstable governments, could result in anarchy
• sought to design republics in which the people would exercise their sovereignty by choosing the best men to govern and then standing aside to let them do so
• sought to create governments along the lines of the former colonial system
• franchise limited to property holders
• high property qualifications for office holding
• fairly infrequent elections
• bicameral legislature
• governors with wide powers
• democrats- men from humble backgrounds
• broad franchise
• no property qualifications for office holding
• frequent elections
• unicameral legislature
• weak executive

the state constitutions

• most new constitutions drawn up and put into effect by state legislatures without specific authorisation from the electorate
• few were the work of specially elected conventions
• varying in detail
• resembled each other in many respects
• broadly patterned on the colonial model
• all agreed sovereignty resided with the people
• all were concerned about the separation of powers
• usual provision was for a legislature consisting of 2 houses- except Pennsylvania and Georgia
• lower house seen as directly representing the people
• upper house seen as representing gentlemen
• all original states required property ownership or payment of taxes to vote
• property qualifications for voting were generally low
• in most states- over 2/3 white men over the age of 21 had the right to vote
• qualifications for office holding remained much the same as under the colonial governments
• every state except Pennsylvania had…