Community Leadership in Maryland, 1790-1840: A Comparative Analysis of Power in SocietyUniversity of North Carolina Press, 1979 - 414 pages American democracy has fascinated generations of historians. They have probed its philosophical foundations and the structure of its institutions, but their studies reveal little about those who really wielded power in the formative years of the republic. Employing a sophisticated research design, Whitman Ridgway examines the changing leadership patterns in four diverse communities in Maryland from 1790 to 1840. The results indicate clearly the need to study the American democratic process at the local level. Ridgway selected Baltimore City, Frederick, St. Marys, and Talbot counties -- representing the underlying economic and cultural diversity of one political culture, Maryland -- to evaluate who governed, how these patterns differed from one community to another, and how such patterns changed over time. The research design defines the scope of the study. Ridgway uses the decisional method of analysis, determining who actually made decisions, in order to identify the political leaders. His extensive research in manuscript and newspaper collections, tax and census data, and religious and geneological records gathered information on some 1,300 persons. This study of community power illuminates facets of a democratic society which perplexed Alexis de Tocqueville over a century ago. Ridgway demonstrates that, despite the expansion of popular participation in political affairs, the influence of the wealthy continued to be significant. He shows also how leaders without benefit of wealth or social ties to the oligarchies were able to enter community decision making. In a more modern context, this important book adds to the literature in several ways. Its greatest contribution is methological -- no longer can historians talk about power relationships without studying them directly. The work also compares two important periods, the first and second party eras, normally treated in isolation; and through this comparison it reveals much about democracy, egalitarianism, and power. Originally published 1979. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value. |
From inside the book
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Page 65
... reform issue caused an unexpected ambivalence among Fred- erick County partisans . As in other large and underrepresented populous areas , there was a keen awareness of the basic inequity built into the prevailing system ; yet , as in ...
... reform issue caused an unexpected ambivalence among Fred- erick County partisans . As in other large and underrepresented populous areas , there was a keen awareness of the basic inequity built into the prevailing system ; yet , as in ...
Page 66
... reform convention . Colonel John McPherson , Jr. , an important Anti - Jackson and internal improvements leader , chaired two meetings and belonged to the central reform committee in 1835 . Thomas Sappington , an incumbent state senator ...
... reform convention . Colonel John McPherson , Jr. , an important Anti - Jackson and internal improvements leader , chaired two meetings and belonged to the central reform committee in 1835 . Thomas Sappington , an incumbent state senator ...
Page 114
... reform were accomplished , the Baltimore press gave special attention to county reform organizations . Reports were printed from small counties , such as Cecil and Harford , which were also Jackson strongholds , and from larger counties ...
... reform were accomplished , the Baltimore press gave special attention to county reform organizations . Reports were printed from small counties , such as Cecil and Harford , which were also Jackson strongholds , and from larger counties ...
Contents
Whose Right to Rule? | 3 |
The Seamless Web | 20 |
Frederick County | 44 |
Copyright | |
6 other sections not shown
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Community Leadership in Maryland, 1790-1840: A Comparative Analysis of Power ... Whitman H. Ridgway No preview available - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
Abraham Shriver Acres Lots Slaves active Andrew Shriver Anti-Jackson party Anti-Jacksonian April Attorney Balt Baltimore City Baltimore Republican Birthplace Carroll Charles Comments Commercial Elite community leadership Community Power Congressman convention David Shriver decisional elite Eastern Shore Easton editor election electoral Elites Elites Elites Episcopalian Federalist Federalist party Frederick County Fredericktown George German Goldsborough Henry Howard ibid internal improvements Jackson party Jacksonian James McHenry John Leeds Kerr June Kerr legislature Lots Slaves Value Maryland Marys County merchant Methodist militia militia captain militia colonel militia officer Occupation(s oligarchy Party Acres Lots Party Era cont party leaders party system percent political Positional Elite Presbyterian president Propertied Elite recruitment reform Robert role rural Samuel Smith second party second party system senate Sept Shriver Papers social Society Table Talbot County Thomas Tilghman tion urban wealth William