De Witt Clinton and the Rise of the People's Men

In 1824 the People's party, the first popular reform movement in the American republic, elected most of its candidates for the Senate and Assembly of New York, the new nation's most populous state. Craig Hanyan and Mary Hanyan examine the development of this influential movement and the role of De Witt Clinton, its chief beneficiary. "In this detailed examination of the development of the People's party of New York in the early nineteenth century, Craig and Mary Hanyan not only provide an in-depth analysis of the interplay of interests and ideology behind the People's movement but also establish relationships between the emergent political culture that bolstered that movement and the Whig and Democratic parties of the later second-party system. Moreover, they demonstrate that the central objective of the People's movement was not simply to enhance American political democracy : it was also fuelled by a determination to avoid taxation of personalty (personal property or estate), which quickly won the support of canny and well-heeled backers both in upstate New York and in New York City." "The authors draw on extensive research on New York's political life, from the town and county level to the Assembly and Senate, and include profiles of the groups who were active in state politics during De Witt Clinton's time."--Résumé de l'éditeur Contents Acknowledgments 1 Introduction: A Man, a Movement, and Methods 2 "His Story Is Told": A Politician in Retreat 3 The "First Fruits of the New Constitution": The Troubles of the Party in Power 4 Towards a "Revolution in Public Opinion": The Clintonian Contribution to an Opposition Position 5 "A More Temperate State of Things": The Emergence of an Opposition Movement 6 "The Gordian Knot": Public Opinion and the Politics of Legislative Blockage 7 "One Republic Not Ungrateful": The Shadow of Magistracy Lengthens across Generations 8 "New York Is Now an Empire": The Utica Convention and the Affirmation of Commerce 9 "Root Cried Yesterday": The Workings and Aftermath of Victory Appendix A Relationship Categories Appendix B Tables Notes A Brief Note on Bibliographies Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z MAPS 1 New York City in 1824 2 Political Features of New York State in November 1824 The authors not only provide an in-depth analysis of the interplay of interests and ideology behind the People's movement but also establish relationships between the emergent political culture that bolstered that movement and the Whig and Democratic parties of the later second-party system. Moreover, they demonstrate that the central objective of the People's movement was not simply to enhance American political democracy: it was also fuelled by a determination to avoid taxation of personalty (personal property or estate), which quickly won the support of canny and well-heeled backers both in upstate New York and in New York City. The authors draw on extensive research on New York's political life, from the town and county level to the state Assembly and Senate, and include profiles of the groups who were active in state politics in the early nineteenth century.