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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.
List of contents
I. Some Problems in Colonial New York History1. 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 Expansion1. "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 Contentions1. 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 Crisis1. 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 DeLancey, Anglo-American: The Politics of New York at Mid-Century1. 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 Opportunities1. 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": 1765-1770I. 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 NoteAppendix 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
About the author
Patricia U. Bonomi
Summary
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.
