English Liberties In Colonial America
The development of America’s government, and social structure that we know today started to form after the first colonies were established. During the beginning of the eighteenth century in America the thought of English liberties started to take root with these colonists. When looking at the statement “during the first half of the eighteenth century, new ideas of English liberty had little effect on power relations in colonial America; throughout this period, the upper classes retained their dominance of colonial affairs” we can see how this is persuasive and not. This statement is persuasive because these liberties provided more power to the upper class in government, and can be less persuasive because the lower class would gain more power
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This leniency started with the drafting of the Carter of Liberties. Foner states “the charter required that elections be held every three years among male property owners and the freemen of New York City; it also reaffirmed traditional English rights” (Foner, p. 93). The English liberties that were establish allowed more individuals to vote, and gave some power back to the lower class colonist. Forer states “it is estimated that between 50 and 80 precent of adult white men could vote in eighteenth century America” (Foner, p. 150). More of the lower class having the availability to vote make the statement that the upper class had more power in government less persuasive. This is because the lower class had more power of choosing who would control the power of their respective …show more content…
Foner states “Dozens of publishers were hauled before assemblies and forced to apologize for comments regarding one or another member” (Foner, p. 155). This further shows the fear that the upper class had against the power of the lower classes had with their voting rights. They did not want to tarnish their public image because they needed to keep the power they had achieved. This makes statement that the upper class fully retained the power of the colonies less persuasive because there was still power held by the
This leniency started with the drafting of the Carter of Liberties. Foner states “the charter required that elections be held every three years among male property owners and the freemen of New York City; it also reaffirmed traditional English rights” (Foner, p. 93). The English liberties that were establish allowed more individuals to vote, and gave some power back to the lower class colonist. Forer states “it is estimated that between 50 and 80 precent of adult white men could vote in eighteenth century America” (Foner, p. 150). More of the lower class having the availability to vote make the statement that the upper class had more power in government less persuasive. This is because the lower class had more power of choosing who would control the power of their respective …show more content…
Foner states “Dozens of publishers were hauled before assemblies and forced to apologize for comments regarding one or another member” (Foner, p. 155). This further shows the fear that the upper class had against the power of the lower classes had with their voting rights. They did not want to tarnish their public image because they needed to keep the power they had achieved. This makes statement that the upper class fully retained the power of the colonies less persuasive because there was still power held by the