A Factious People : Politics and Society in Colonial New York

First published in 1971 and long out of print, this classic account of Colonial-era New York chronicles how the state was buffeted by political and sectional rivalries and by conflict arising from a wide diversity of ethnic and religious identities. New York's highly volatile and contentious political life, Patricia U. Bonomi shows, gave rise to several interest groups for whose support political leaders had to compete, resulting in new levels of democratic participation. | First published in 1971 and long out of print, this classic account of Colonial-era New York chronicles how the state was buffeted by political and sectional rivalries and by conflict arising from a wide diversity of ethnic and religious identities. New York's highly volatile and contentious political life, Patricia U. Bonomi shows, gave rise to a number of interest groups for whose support political leaders had to compete, resulting in new levels of democratic participation. Contents Abbreviations I. Some Problems in Colonial New York History 1 . Carl Becker's View of Colonial New York 2. The New York "Aristocracy": A Problem of Definition 3. Political Factionalism: A "divided" and "contentious" People 4. "As the twig is bent . . . " 5. "Who should rule at home"? II. Settlement and Expansion 1 . "A mixture of Nations" 2. Local Government: A Random Growth 3. The "City-State" of Albany 4 . The "Albany Spirit" III. Economic Interests and Political Contentions I. The Merchant Interest 2. The Landed Interest 3. The Backdrop: The Leislerian Upheaval — Fiscal Policies 4. Politics and Governor Hunter: 1710 - 1719 5. Politics and Governor Burnet: 1720 - 1727 6. Shifting Patterns: 1728 - 1731 IV. The Morris-Cosby Dispute: A Political and Constitutional Crisis 1. The Resurgence of Parties: Governor Cosby and the Van Dam Affair 2. A Twofold Strategy: The Founding of Zenger's New-York Weekly Journal; the Westchester Election of 1733 3. A Flanking Maneuver: Lewis Morris in London; Petitions in New York 4. A Crisis of Identity in the Making V. James De Lancey, Anglo-American: The Politics of New York at Mid-Century 1. Building an Anglo-American "Interest" 2. James DeLancey versus Governor George Clinton 3. Governor Clinton Builds a Party: 1748 - 1752 4. Henry Beekman and the Politics of Dutchess County 5. James DeLancey Becomes Acting Governor of New York VI. New York's Land System: Problems and Opprtunities 1. Problems of Interpretation and Definition 2. Legal and Economic Aspects of the Great Patents 3. A Favorable View of Tenancy 4. The Causes of Agrarian Unrest 5. A "Drove of Banditt Rovers" 6. The Riots of 1766 7. Some Considerations VII . Politics, The "Universal Topick ": 1765-1770 1. The Parties Take Shape 2. On Party Labels 3. The Election of 1768 4. Party Conflicts in the Assembly: 1768 5. The Election of 1769 6. Assembly Maneuvers: 1769 7. Alexander McDougall and "the grand Cause of America" VIII. Ideology and Politics: A Concluding Note Appendixes Appendix A. Genealogies Appendix B. English Governors of New York Appendix C. Representatives in the Colonial Assembly Appendix D. Council of the Colony of New York Bibliography Index

First published in 1971 and long out of print, this classic account of Colonial-era New York chronicles how the state was buffeted by political and sectional rivalries and by conflict arising from a wide diversity of ethnic and religious identities. New York’s highly volatile and contentious political life, Patricia U. Bonomi shows, gave rise to several interest groups for whose support political leaders had to compete, resulting in new levels of democratic participation.