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
with the right to vote after fighting for their English liberties. Adopting the idea of English liberties lead to the upper class achieving more power over the lower classes. Eric Foner states that the idea of English liberties turned into the “general definition of freedom grounded in the common rights of all individuals” (Foner, p. 84). After this idea took hold with colonists during the early eighteenth century the general public started to demand their entitled liberties in the form of government. Foner states “many colonist, meanwhile, began to complain that they were being denied the liberties of Englishmen, especially the right to constant taxation” (Foner, p. 93). This demand is what created the need for a more structured government that would allow the people to be represented. With the majority of the member that qualified to participate in this government being in the upper class they remained dominate over the lower classes. Foner states “property qualifications for office holding were far higher than for voting” (Foner, p. 151). This supports that the statement that the upper class held a dominant position over the lower classes as being persuasive. Controlling the right to participate in the government the upper class kept the power within tight knit groups. In Many colonies the members running for government were from established, and prominent families. Colonial government became ruled by “relatives and allies of the great landed families” (Foner, p. 151). This further supports the persuasiveness of the statement that the upper calls remained in power because the upper class continued to control the government by keeping it in the family. The statement that the upper class controlled power is also less persuasive because the lower classes earned more power in with their voting rights after arguing for their English liberties. The control of voting also led to the more colonist becoming interested in the workings of government. Colonist fighting for their English liberties led to the development of elections which, and allowed more lenient laws on who was allowed to vote.
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
colonies. With the adaptation of their English liberties the common people became more interested in the workings of government which threatened the power of the social elite.
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
colonists.
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” is persuasive, but also lacking. The statement is persuasive because English liberties provided more power to the upper class who held the seats government, and can be not as persuasive because the lower class would gain more power with the right to vote. With the upper class controlling the decision making power from controlling the positions of government it was only stifled by the control average colonists had when electing the officials. This development of America’s government helped to set the foundation for the social structure that can be seen to this day.