Democracy by Petition

Democracy by Petition PDF Author: Daniel Carpenter
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 0674247493
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 649

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Book Description
This pioneering work of political history recovers the central and largely forgotten role that petitioning played in the formative years of North American democracy. Known as the age of democracy, the nineteenth century witnessed the extension of the franchise and the rise of party politics. As Daniel Carpenter shows, however, democracy in America emerged not merely through elections and parties, but through the transformation of an ancient political tool: the petition. A statement of grievance accompanied by a list of signatures, the petition afforded women and men excluded from formal politics the chance to make their voices heard and to reshape the landscape of political possibility. Democracy by Petition traces the explosion and expansion of petitioning across the North American continent. Indigenous tribes in Canada, free Blacks from Boston to the British West Indies, Irish canal workers in Indiana, and Hispanic settlers in territorial New Mexico all used petitions to make claims on those in power. Petitions facilitated the extension of suffrage, the decline of feudal land tenure, and advances in liberty for women, African Americans, and Indigenous peoples. Even where petitioners failed in their immediate aims, their campaigns advanced democracy by setting agendas, recruiting people into political causes, and fostering aspirations of equality. Far more than periodic elections, petitions provided an everyday current of communication between officeholders and the people. The coming of democracy in America owes much to the unprecedented energy with which the petition was employed in the antebellum period. By uncovering this neglected yet vital strand of nineteenth-century life, Democracy by Petition will forever change how we understand our political history.

Democracy by Petition

Democracy by Petition PDF Author: Daniel Carpenter
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 0674247493
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 649

Get Book

Book Description
This pioneering work of political history recovers the central and largely forgotten role that petitioning played in the formative years of North American democracy. Known as the age of democracy, the nineteenth century witnessed the extension of the franchise and the rise of party politics. As Daniel Carpenter shows, however, democracy in America emerged not merely through elections and parties, but through the transformation of an ancient political tool: the petition. A statement of grievance accompanied by a list of signatures, the petition afforded women and men excluded from formal politics the chance to make their voices heard and to reshape the landscape of political possibility. Democracy by Petition traces the explosion and expansion of petitioning across the North American continent. Indigenous tribes in Canada, free Blacks from Boston to the British West Indies, Irish canal workers in Indiana, and Hispanic settlers in territorial New Mexico all used petitions to make claims on those in power. Petitions facilitated the extension of suffrage, the decline of feudal land tenure, and advances in liberty for women, African Americans, and Indigenous peoples. Even where petitioners failed in their immediate aims, their campaigns advanced democracy by setting agendas, recruiting people into political causes, and fostering aspirations of equality. Far more than periodic elections, petitions provided an everyday current of communication between officeholders and the people. The coming of democracy in America owes much to the unprecedented energy with which the petition was employed in the antebellum period. By uncovering this neglected yet vital strand of nineteenth-century life, Democracy by Petition will forever change how we understand our political history.

Direct Democracy in the United States

Direct Democracy in the United States PDF Author: Shauna Reilly
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0415537274
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
Experts assess the connection between characteristics of petitioners, how they are able to influence their communities beyond the ballot box and how large an influence they are on specific areas of policy.

Our Democratic First Amendment

Our Democratic First Amendment PDF Author: Ashutosh Bhagwat
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108583423
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 179

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Book Description
The First Amendment to the US Constitution protects free speech, freedom of the press, freedom of association and assembly, and the right to petition the government. Why did the Framers protect these particular rights? What role were these rights intended to play in our democracy? And what force do they retain in today's world? In this highly readable account, Ashutosh Bhagwat explores the answers to these questions. The first part of the book looks at the history of the First Amendment, early political conflicts over its meaning, and the lessons to be learned from those events about the nature of our system of government. The second part applies those lessons to our modern, fractious democracy as it has evolved in the age of the Internet and social media. Now as then, the key to maintaining that democracy, it turns out, is an active citizenry that fully embraces the First Amendment.

A New Mode of Petitioning, Instructing Our Representatives, Or Voting for Propositions to Become Law

A New Mode of Petitioning, Instructing Our Representatives, Or Voting for Propositions to Become Law PDF Author: Joseph Evens
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Democracy
Languages : en
Pages : 38

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Book Description


Democracy by Petition

Democracy by Petition PDF Author: Daniel Carpenter
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 0674258878
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 649

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Book Description
Winner of the James P. Hanlan Book Award Winner of the J. David Greenstone Book Prize Winner of the S. M. Lipset Best Book Award This pioneering work of political history recovers the central and largely forgotten role that petitioning played in the formative years of North American democracy. Known as the age of democracy, the nineteenth century witnessed the extension of the franchise and the rise of party politics. As Daniel Carpenter shows, however, democracy in America emerged not merely through elections and parties, but through the transformation of an ancient political tool: the petition. A statement of grievance accompanied by a list of signatures, the petition afforded women and men excluded from formal politics the chance to make their voices heard and to reshape the landscape of political possibility. Democracy by Petition traces the explosion and expansion of petitioning across the North American continent. Indigenous tribes in Canada, free Blacks from Boston to the British West Indies, Irish canal workers in Indiana, and Hispanic settlers in territorial New Mexico all used petitions to make claims on those in power. Petitions facilitated the extension of suffrage, the decline of feudal land tenure, and advances in liberty for women, African Americans, and Indigenous peoples. Even where petitioners failed in their immediate aims, their campaigns advanced democracy by setting agendas, recruiting people into political causes, and fostering aspirations of equality. Far more than periodic elections, petitions provided an everyday current of communication between officeholders and the people. The coming of democracy in America owes much to the unprecedented energy with which the petition was employed in the antebellum period. By uncovering this neglected yet vital strand of nineteenth-century life, Democracy by Petition will forever change how we understand our political history.

Will You Sign My Petition?: Read Along or Enhanced eBook

Will You Sign My Petition?: Read Along or Enhanced eBook PDF Author: Stephanie Kraus
Publisher: Teacher Created Materials
ISBN: 1087628075
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 35

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Book Description
Learn how the power of a petition can give Americans the ability to create real change! This nonfiction book includes a related short fiction piece, glossary, an exciting bonus activity, and other useful tools. The fun images and meaningful text will teach students how to be responsible citizens who can improve their communities by writing petitions. This 32-page full-color book describes the purpose of petitions and how they can be used to make a difference. It also explores important topics such as laws and democracy and includes an extension activity for grade 3. Perfect for the classroom, at-home learning, or homeschool to explore working together, First Amendment rights, and ways to create change.

Democracy

Democracy PDF Author: David A. Moss
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 0674974093
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 690

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Book Description
Historian David Moss adapts the case study method made famous by Harvard Business School to revitalize our conversations about governance and democracy and show how the United States has often thrived on political conflict. These 19 cases ask us to weigh choices and consequences, wrestle with momentous decisions, and come to our own conclusions.

Government by All the People; Or

Government by All the People; Or PDF Author: Delos Franklin Wilcox
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Recall
Languages : en
Pages : 364

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Book Description


Will You Sign My Petition?

Will You Sign My Petition? PDF Author: Stephanie Kraus
Publisher: Teacher Created Materials
ISBN: 1087628679
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 36

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Book Description
Learn how the power of a petition can give Americans the ability to create real change! This nonfiction book includes a related short fiction piece, glossary, an exciting bonus activity, and other useful tools. The fun images and meaningful text will teach students how to be responsible citizens who can improve their communities by writing petitions. This 32-page full-color book describes the purpose of petitions and how they can be used to make a difference. It also explores important topics such as laws and democracy and includes an extension activity for grade 3. Perfect for the classroom, at-home learning, or homeschool to explore working together, First Amendment rights, and ways to create change.

Design, Meaning and Choice in Direct Democracy

Design, Meaning and Choice in Direct Democracy PDF Author: Shauna Reilly
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317152239
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 254

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Book Description
Design, Meaning and Choice in Direct Democracy examines the link between political knowledge and participation in direct democracy in the United States. Presenting insights on the different behaviours of the petitioner, the ballot and the voter and using quantitative, qualitative and experimental methodological approaches, Shauna Reilly evaluates the use of direct democracy and why, despite the power of these measures, there is such low turnout in these elections. She demonstrates the varied approaches to ballot measures and citizens particularly when dealing with citizen comprehension which can account for the variety of language that appears on the ballot. A rigorous and highly original analysis of direct democracy in the United States, this book guarantees that readers will be shocked at the findings and question the future of governance through ballot measures.