(Fig. 5.)
‘Here ye! Here ye!’ — Town Meetings in Colonial America
More than letters or pamphlets, town meetings proved to be a process most organic, a political activity that sought the communal mobilization of every citizen, of every creed and social stature. By the early years of the Revolution, colonists made use of town meeting spaces as a means to circumvent British authority, and strengthen their own political autonomy. Three examples stand above the rest as a prescient statement on the colonists’ use of town meetings in achieving political independence.
On a summer’s eve of 1774, the townspeople of Pittsfield, Massachusetts were incited to assemble upon the passage of the Government Act, a law whose contents would “limit Massachusetts towns to to one annual meeting,” among other politically restrictive measures. [26] There assembled, the townspeople vowed to “‘utterly refuse the least submission’ to the act,” going so far as to prevent “Berkshire County” judiciary figures from enforcing the law, let alone entering their place of work at the courthouse. [27] Similarly, in the hospices of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, patriot townspeople assembled, after suffering a shellacking at the hands of “Philadelphia moderates” in the contest for the state assembly seats. [28] Converging to protest the election results, the Philadelphians—a throng led by Thomas Paine—declared as a unified constituency the outcome of the election to be null and void, because the government was sponsored by the Crown. [29] Greater still, John Adams remarked on the makeup of the crowd, congregating “on a rainy spring morning,” “called it ‘the very first town meeting I ever saw in Philadelphia,’” applauding the meeting as “giving power to all the people—of whatever age, status, wealth, or even gender.” [29] Beyond the pale of revolutionary fighting and bluster, colonists attempted to use the forum of town meetings as a way by which to build a government in midst of their revolution. The town of Concord, Massachusetts coalesced in October of 1776, so as propose a drafted constitution, and “Publish their Proposed Constitution for the Inspection & Remarks of the Inhabitents of this State.” [30]
These three instances, are ample evidence of the mobilization that can manifest from town meetings. Not only does the venue of a town meeting give townspeople license to confront authority figures, to challenge judges and contest elections, but it gives every member of these communities the innate ability to participate in their political environment: to read constitutions, to congregate in pure disregard of race and creed and class. This empowering venue, all devised in defiance of British authority, awoke in people an authentic connection with one another, as a cohesive community.
‘Here ye! Here ye!’ — Town Meetings in Colonial America
More than letters or pamphlets, town meetings proved to be a process most organic, a political activity that sought the communal mobilization of every citizen, of every creed and social stature. By the early years of the Revolution, colonists made use of town meeting spaces as a means to circumvent British authority, and strengthen their own political autonomy. Three examples stand above the rest as a prescient statement on the colonists’ use of town meetings in achieving political independence.
On a summer’s eve of 1774, the townspeople of Pittsfield, Massachusetts were incited to assemble upon the passage of the Government Act, a law whose contents would “limit Massachusetts towns to to one annual meeting,” among other politically restrictive measures. [26] There assembled, the townspeople vowed to “‘utterly refuse the least submission’ to the act,” going so far as to prevent “Berkshire County” judiciary figures from enforcing the law, let alone entering their place of work at the courthouse. [27] Similarly, in the hospices of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, patriot townspeople assembled, after suffering a shellacking at the hands of “Philadelphia moderates” in the contest for the state assembly seats. [28] Converging to protest the election results, the Philadelphians—a throng led by Thomas Paine—declared as a unified constituency the outcome of the election to be null and void, because the government was sponsored by the Crown. [29] Greater still, John Adams remarked on the makeup of the crowd, congregating “on a rainy spring morning,” “called it ‘the very first town meeting I ever saw in Philadelphia,’” applauding the meeting as “giving power to all the people—of whatever age, status, wealth, or even gender.” [29] Beyond the pale of revolutionary fighting and bluster, colonists attempted to use the forum of town meetings as a way by which to build a government in midst of their revolution. The town of Concord, Massachusetts coalesced in October of 1776, so as propose a drafted constitution, and “Publish their Proposed Constitution for the Inspection & Remarks of the Inhabitents of this State.” [30]
These three instances, are ample evidence of the mobilization that can manifest from town meetings. Not only does the venue of a town meeting give townspeople license to confront authority figures, to challenge judges and contest elections, but it gives every member of these communities the innate ability to participate in their political environment: to read constitutions, to congregate in pure disregard of race and creed and class. This empowering venue, all devised in defiance of British authority, awoke in people an authentic connection with one another, as a cohesive community.