XV. Political Life

1. A. Whig Ideology 1. Starts in England during 1700s 2. Practiced in America during 1730s 3. Traditional checks and balances B. Governor represents the King 1. Called in and dissolves legislature 2. Possessed the Veto 3. In some cases initiated legislation 4. Head of State 5. Appointed by King except in R.I. and Conn. where elected C. Governor's Council 1. Closest Advisors 2. Chosen by Governor except in R.I., Conn., and Mass. 3. Richest or most influential men 4. With Governor made up highest court of appeal in colonies 5. Acted as upper house except in Penn., unicameral 6. Rejected or approved legislation sent by lower house XV. Political Life

2. 7. Like English House of Lords D. Lower House 1. English House of Commons 2. At first just a tool of the Governor 3. By early 1700s assert their power 4. Demand right to initiate legislation 5. Control own procedures 6. Exercise primary authority over revenue bills 7. Determine Governor's salary 8. Control Militia. 9. Most members upper class 10. few artisans or farmers before the revolution E. Voting Patterns. 1. widespread ownership of land and lower qualifications. 2. 50% to 80% of adult males could vote. 3. only small percentage voted. F. Virginia local government centered around the county court. 1. each member was a justice of the peace.

3. 2. heard small claims & some criminal cases. 3. responsible for roads, taxation, licenses, weights & measures 4. social and economic elite of area. 5. appointed by governor 6. life appointments 7. Madison and Jefferson were justices. G. New England local government centers around town meetings 1. 1st embodied ideas of Puritans, peaceful orderly community 2. selectmen ran meetings, elected by peers. 3. dissenters were driven from town, "warning out". 4. Town’s men started meeting before meetings in taverns. 5. inn keepers became important at this time. 6. almost all positions elected. 7. 1750s dissent more common political compromise common 8. Tradition of Police in towns H. The identity of Colonial Assemblies. 1. saw themselves as protecting the rights of the colonists 2. Only New York assembly divided and politically unstable.

4. XVI. Turmoil & Lack of Order A. Political system not meeting the needs of the colonists. 1. Population growing 2. inadequate police force 3. several actions of mob violence B. 9/ 1739 in S.Carolina twenty slaves rebelled by Stono R. 1. raided store, stole guns, ammunition & killed storekeepers 2. headed south towards Florida & Spanish territory 3. whites panicked, at news of slave rebellion 4. Militia caught slaves killed some & captured for execution 5. A few escaped but whites stiffened laws with Blacks C. Effect in New York 1. News of rebellion spread. 2. New York had slave revolt in 1712 3. In 1741 small band of thieves and arsonists a. accused of starting a conspiracy to start a slave revolt b. under the guidance of a priest in the employ of Spain.

5. 4. By summer 31 blacks and 4 whites killed. 5. product of wild imagination & rumors D. Land fights 1. 1746 land east of Appalachians owned. 2. New York sells New Jersey a. New Jersey want rent payments. 3. 1760s in Vermont similar case a. farmers in Vermont had grants from New Hampshire b. speculators had claims from New York in late 1600s i. poor Dutch and German families rented the land ii. After 1740 New Englanders move into area & squatted iii. By 1760s proprietors sought redress in N.Y.courts iv. courts upheld evictions but unable to move tenants v. farmers terrorized proprietors, and loyal tenants vi. freed friends from jail, battled sheriff and posse vii. controlled land illegally from 1765-1766 viii. British troops dispatched from N.Y. city ix. captured important leaders and sheriff evicts rest

6. E. Boston uprising of 1747 1. Commodore Charles Knowles docks fleet in Boston 2. needed supplies and men 3. started impressing all men 4. Crowd seized several British officers i. demanding release of fellow citizens. 5. Sheriff helpless and militia refused to respond 6. several days later Knowles released prisoners & set sail F. Carolinas full of Scotts-Irish in 1760s 1. complained law enforcement too lax & bias against them 2. started group of vigilantes known as regulators 3. started in South Carolina, 10 yrs later continued in N.C. 4. local militia put down regulators at Alamance 1771 G. Mob violence signified growing social tensions 1. could not be controlled through present government 2. enforcement lax and representation limited.