Frontier Democracy - Constitutional Conventions in the Old Northwest

Frontier Democracy examines the debates over state constitutions in the antebellum Northwest (Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) from the 1820s through the 1850s. This is a book about conversations: in particular, the fights and negotiations over the core ideals in the constitutions that brought these frontier communities to life. Silvana R. Siddali argues that the Northwestern debates over representation and citizenship reveal two profound commitments: the first to fair deliberation, and the second to ethical principles based on republicanism, Christianity, and science. Some of these ideas succeeded brilliantly: within forty years, the region became an economic and demographic success story. However, some failed tragically: racial hatred prevailed everywhere in the region, in spite of reformers' passionate arguments for justice, and resulted in disfranchisement and even exclusion for non-white Northwesterners that lasted for generations.

List of contents

Introduction; 1. Delegates; 2. Constitutions; 3. Laws; 4. Lawmakers; 5. Judges; 6. Land rights; 7. Places; 8. Citizens; 9. Wives; 10. Banks; Epilogue.

About the author

Silvana R. Siddali is Associate Professor of History at Saint Louis University, Missouri.

Summary

Frontier Democracy examines the debates over state constitutions in the antebellum Northwest (Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) from the 1820s through the 1850s. This is a book about conversations: in particular, the fights and negotiations over the core ideals in the constitutions that brought these frontier communities to life.

Product details

• Authors: Silvana R. Siddali, Silvana R. (Saint Louis University Siddali, Siddali Silvana R.
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 20.10.2015
• EAN: 9781107090767
• ISBN: 978-1-107-09076-7
• No. of pages: 403
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Regional and national histories; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, POLITICAL SCIENCE / American Government / General, HISTORY / United States / 19th Century, c 1800 to c 1900, 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899, Politics & government, 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799, Politics and government, History of the Americas, US Midwest, North Central & Mid-West States