The Background -- The Rise of the Radicals (1776-1778) -- Triumph of Radicalism (1778-1780) -- The Conservatives Emerge (1780-1782) -- Conservatives Ride to Power (1782-1784) -- Counter-Revolution Halter(1783-1786) -- Triumph of the Counter-Revolution (1786-1790).
Summary
From the Preface: "Only with the detailed story of the struggle between radical and conservative forces in each state can one gain a more complete understanding of the history of the Revolution and the Confederation."
The crucible of conflict -- 1. Background to the struggle : the federalist challenge and the origins of Pennsylvania's Jeffersonian conflict -- 2. The radicals emerge : "The European condition of society" and the promise of democracy -- 3. The quid challenge : political economy, politics, and the fault lines of conflict -- 4. The crucible of conflict : 1805 -- 5. "Perpetual motion--perpetual change--a boundless ocean without a shore" : the final meaning of democracy in Pennsylvania -- History and historiography.
Summary
"Pennsylvania Jeffersonians were the first American citizens to attempt to translate idealized speculations about democracy into a workable system of politics and governance. In doing so, they revealed key assumptions that united other national citizens regarding democracy and the conditions necessary for its survival. In particular, they assumed that democracy required economic autonomy and a strong measure of economic as well as political equality among citizens. This strong egalitarian theme was, however, challenged by Pennsylvania's precociously capitalistic economy and the nation's dynamic economic development in general, forcing the Jeffersonians to confront the reality that economic and social equality would have to take a back seat to free market forces.".
"Shankman's exploration of the Pennsylvania experience reveals how democracy arose in America, how it came to accommodate capitalism, at the same time marginalizing egalitarian assumptions and dreams. A work of intellectual and political history, his study also mirrors the aspirations, fears, hatreds, dreams, generous impulses, noble strivings, selfish cant, and enormous capacity to imagine of those who first tried to translate the blueprint for democracy into a tested foundation for the nation's future."--BOOK JACKET.
"This is one of a series relating western Pennsylvania history, written under the direction of the Western Pennsylvania historical survey sponsored jointly by the Buhl foundation, the Historical society of western Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh."
Contains statements by various Pennsylvania officials.
Library holds the German original.
Attributed to Henrich Schweitzer, Philadelphia, printer based on typographical evidence.
Shaw and Shoemaker 14953.
Summary
This resource is a pamphlet concerning the 1808 Pennsylvanian gubernatorial election between Democratic-Republican candidate Simon Schneider (Snyder) (1759-1819) and Federalist James Ross (1762-1847). The writers of the pamphlet were alerting the public to what they believed were threats to their freedoms if Snyder were elected: "Free Voters of Pennsylvania! Read the following pages, and consider what to do before it is too late. The time is extremely important: be alert, otherwise your freedom will disappear for ever, and all the famous rights and privileges will be sacrificed on the alter of anarchy." The pamphlet includes testimonials from area persons who were worried that Snyder would call a convention to change the constitution in order to take away the rights of poor men to vote and to establish a military tribunal about the rights of conscience.