About the book
The American revolutionaries themselves believed the change from monarchy to republic was the essence of the Revolution. King and People in Provincial Massachusetts explores what monarchy meant to Massachusetts under its second charter and why the momentous change to republican government came about.
Richard L. Bushman argues that monarchy entailed more than having a king as head of state: it was an elaborate political culture with implications for social organization as well. Massachusetts, moreover, was entirely loyal to the king and thoroughly imbued with that culture.
Why then did the colonies become republican in 1776? The change cannot be attributed to a single thinker such as John Locke or to a strain of political thought such as English country party rhetoric. Instead, it was the result of tensions ingrained in the colonial political system that surfaced with the invasion of parliamentary power into colonial affairs after 1763.
The underlying weakness of monarchical government in Massachusetts was the absence of monarchical society — the intricate web of patronage and dependence that existed in England. But the conflict came from the colonists' conception of rulers as an alien class of exploiters whose interest was the plundering of the colonies. In large part, colonial politics was the effort to restrain official avarice.
The author explicates the meaning of “interest” in political discourse to show how that conception was central in the thinking of both the popular party and the British ministry. Management of the interest of royal officials was a problem that continually bedeviled both the colonists and the crown. Conflict was perennial because the colonists and the ministry pursued diverging objectives in regulating colonial officialdom. Ultimately the colonists came to see that safety against exploitation by self-interested rulers would be assured only by republican government.
Editions of King and People in Provincial Massachusetts
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807816240
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807843987
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890865328
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469611259
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469600109
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890865311
Read an Excerpt
The American revolutionaries themselves believed the change from monarchy to republic was the essence of the Revolution. King and People in Provincial Massachusetts explores what monarchy meant to Massachusetts under its second charter and why the momentous change to republican government came about.
Richard L. Bushman argues that monarchy entailed more than having a king as head of state: it was an elaborate political culture with implications for social organization as well. Massachusetts, moreover, was entirely loyal to the king and thoroughly imbued with that culture.
Why then did the colonies become republican in 1776? The change cannot be attributed to a single thinker such as John Locke or to a strain of political thought such as English country party rhetoric. Instead, it was the result of tensions ingrained in the colonial political system that surfaced with the invasion of parliamentary power into colonial affairs after 1763.
The underlying weakness of monarchical government in Massachusetts was the absence of monarchical society — the intricate web of patronage and dependence that existed in England. But the conflict came from the colonists' conception of rulers as an alien class of exploiters whose interest was the plundering of the colonies. In large part, colonial politics was the effort to restrain official avarice.
The author explicates the meaning of “interest” in political discourse to show how that conception was central in the thinking of both the popular party and the British ministry. Management of the interest of royal officials was a problem that continually bedeviled both the colonists and the crown. Conflict was perennial because the colonists and the ministry pursued diverging objectives in regulating colonial officialdom. Ultimately the colonists came to see that safety against exploitation by self-interested rulers would be assured only by republican government.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is King and People in Provincial Massachusetts about?
The American revolutionaries themselves believed the change from monarchy to republic was the essence of the Revolution. King and People in Provincial Massachusetts explores what monarchy meant to Massachusetts under its second charter and why the momentous change to republican government came about.
Richard L. Bushman argues that monarchy entailed more than having a king as head of state: it was an elaborate political culture with implications for social organization as well. Massachusetts, moreover, was entirely loyal to the king and thoroughly imbued with that culture.
Why then did the colonies become republican in 1776? The change cannot be attributed to a single thinker such as John Locke or to a strain of political thought such as English country party rhetoric. Instead, it was the result of tensions ingrained in the colonial political system that surfaced with the invasion of parliamentary power into colonial affairs after 1763.
The underlying weakness of monarchical government in Massachusetts was the absence of monarchical society — the intricate web of patronage and dependence that existed in England. But the conflict came from the colonists' conception of rulers as an alien class of exploiters whose interest was the plundering of the colonies. In large part, colonial politics was the effort to restrain official avarice.
The author explicates the meaning of “interest” in political discourse to show how that conception was central in the thinking of both the popular party and the British ministry. Management of the interest of royal officials was a problem that continually bedeviled both the colonists and the crown. Conflict was perennial because the colonists and the ministry pursued diverging objectives in regulating colonial officialdom. Ultimately the colonists came to see that safety against exploitation by self-interested rulers would be assured only by republican government.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in King and People in Provincial Massachusetts?
History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas
Where can I read a sample of King and People in Provincial Massachusetts?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807816240
How long is King and People in Provincial Massachusetts and how many pages does it have?
King and People in Provincial Massachusetts has 290 page(s)
Is King and People in Provincial Massachusetts part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Published by the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture and the University of North Carolina Press
Who is/are the Author/s of the book King and People in Provincial Massachusetts?
Richard L. Bushman
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
King and People in Provincial Massachusetts is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807816240) and paperback(ISBN 9780807843987) and ebook(ISBN 9798890865328) and ebook(ISBN 9781469611259) and ebook(ISBN 9781469600109) and pdf(ISBN 9798890865311)
Where can I buy King and People in Provincial Massachusetts online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy King and People in Provincial Massachusetts from below
Where can I buy King and People in Provincial Massachusetts?