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Making American Politics Making American Politics

Making American Politics - PowerPoint Presentation

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Uploaded On 2018-03-08

Making American Politics - PPT Presentation

Creating a Distinctive American Culture in the 18 th Century Making Sense of 18 th Century American Politics Inheritance of British ideology about government Divergence The Nature of American politics ID: 643067

american politics power british politics american british power york government popular constitution partisanship patronage harmony stability ideology morris rule executive radical dutch

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Slide1

Making American Politics

Creating a Distinctive American Culture in the 18

th

CenturySlide2

Making Sense of 18

th

Century American Politics

Inheritance of British ideology about government

Divergence: The Nature of American politics

The consequences of divergenceSlide3

British Ideology About Government

British constitution sacred – key to liberty

Constitution not codified; accumulated precedentSlide4

British Constitution: Freedom from Mixed Government

Rule Of:

Degenerates

into:

ONE

Monarchy

Tyranny

FEWAristocracyOligarchyMANYDemocracyMob rule

Montesquieu, 1748Slide5

British Constitution: Mixed Government

Rule Of:

Represented

in:

ONE

Monarchy

Crown

FEWAristocracyHouse of LordsMANYDemocracyHouse of Commons

Montequieu

, 1748 –

Unprecedented stability and harmonySlide6

REAL reasons for British stability and harmony

1. Controversial issues all settled:

Relationship of King and Parliament

King governs according to Parliamentary statutes

Will not levy taxes or wage war without consent

No standing army in peacetimeSlide7

REAL reasons for British stability and harmony

2. Day to day harmony ensured:

Crown exercise of “influence” over elections

Crown distribution of patronage

Tremendous stability:

Only one prime minister 1720-1742: Robert WalpoleSlide8

Relationship to American Colonies:

American Constitution Mimics British

Yet, no harmony and stability

Rule Of:

British Example

American Echo

One

CrownGovernorFewHouse of LordsGovernor’s CouncilMany

House of CommonsColonial AssemblySlide9

How did American politics differ?

New York as a Case Study:

The Creation of Partisan Politics

The Creation of Popular Politics

The American Response to Executive PowerSlide10

New York Politics: Partisanship

The Nature of Life in Dutch New York

Outpost of the Dutch West India Company

Implications of Conquest

New legal system

New administration

Elite assimilate, intermarrySlide11

English takeover of New York:

What about the average Dutch colonist?

Anger boils over amid Glorious Revolution, 1689:

Power vacuum in colonies

In New York,

Leisler’s

Rebellion

Jacob Leisler takes power, to govern in William’s nameGrants offices to disaffected Dutch and German colonists1691 Henry Sloughter arrives as new governor; demands Leisler’s resignation and Leisler refusesSlide12

New York Partisanship:

1689- 1712:

Leislerians

vs

anti-

Leislerians

Each group uses patronage to plunder opponentsCharge rivals with seditious libel and arrest them, silencing oppositionSlide13

Partisanship in NY politics in 18

th

century:

1712 Lt. Governor Robert Hunter appointed; allies with New Yorker Lewis Morris

Morris gets monopoly on Indian trade – economic “interest”

Delancey

family cut out – with

Phillipse, leader of Assembly opposition forms anti-administration party1727: DeLancey-Phillipse coalition defeats Hunter-Morris coalitionSlide14

From partisanship to popular politics:

Defeated Hunter-Morris coalition looks for public support vs. new

DeLancey-Phillipse

party

A new, liberal kind of political philosophy –

Published in New York Weekly Journal:

New governor corrupt; abusing constitutionSlide15

Partisanship to Popular Politics:

The Zenger Case, 1734

Peter Zenger, editor of

New York Weekly Journal

Tried for seditious libel:

Defense: “

the government was the servant of the people, and that open criticism was one of the important ways in which magistrates could be kept responsible to them.” Slide16

Conclusions: How do Colonial Politics Differ?

1. Politics Highly Partisan

2. Politics, as a consequence, increasingly popular

Had no choice but to they appeal to popular interests in order to stay in power

Use the press to cultivate supportSlide17

Why so Different: Assemblies not Manageable

Representation more egalitarian

50-75% of white men meet property qualifications to vote

Leadership less settled

Instructions given to representatives

Idea of direct representation evolves . . .Slide18

American Inconsistencies:

Power of Executive

1. On surface, more power:

Veto Power

Can convene and dissolve Assembly at will

Judiciary powersSlide19

Why so Different?:

Power of the Executive

But in practice, less control . . .

Responsible to external executive: Board of Trade

Little “influence” over elections

Reduced ability to distribute patronage

Assemblies

appoint sheriffs, approve judges, appoint colonial treasurerSlide20

Consequences of American political differences:

Much more popular involvement

In context of presumed deference to elites

Americans accept a new ideology about government:

Radical Whig ideologySlide21

Criticism of British system of influence and patronage under Walpole:

Radical Whigs/

Commonwealthmen

John

Trenchard

and Thomas Gordon, 1720-23Slide22

Criticism of British system of influence and patronage: RADICAL WHIG IDEOLOGY

BIG IDEAS:

Power Threatens Liberty

Liberty: Ability to exercise natural rights in limits set by law

Power: Compulsion

“absolute power corrupts, absolutely”

The People MUST be Vigilant Against Corruption and TyrannySlide23

American Conclusions about Government?

Governors too powerful, opposition reminds of corruption – radical Whig warnings make sense

So . . .

Politics MUST be popular

Don’t trust powerful, centralized government!