Virginia's American Revolution : from dominion to republic, 1776-1840 / Kevin R.C. Gutzman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gutzman, Kevin R. C. (Kevin Raeder Constantine), 1963-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Republicanism.

History.

States' rights (American politics).

Virginia--Politics and government--1775-1865.

Virginia.

Politics and government.

Virginia--History--Revolution, 1775-1783.

Virginia--History--1775-1865.

Republicanism--Virginia--History--18th century.

Republicanism--Virginia--History--19th century.

States' rights (American politics)--History--19th century.

Republicanism--United States--History--18th century.

Republicanism--United States--History--19th century.

United States.

Physical Description:

xii, 235 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham : Lexington Books, [2007]

Summary:

Virginia's American Revolution follows the Virginia revolutionaries from their decision for independence on May 15, 1776, through the following sixty-four years-when the last of them finally passed from the scene. To their surprise, the decision to break with Great Britain entailed reconsideration of virtually all their major political and social institutions, from the established church, their aristocratic state government, and feudal land tenures, to slavery and their federal relations with the other American states. Some of these issues, such as the place of the Church of England in the newly republican Virginia, received quick resolutions; others, such as the nature of the relationship between the elite and other men, were not so easily decided. All of them were considered against the backdrop of Virginia's decline from preeminence in the Revolution and Early Republic to the position of just another state in the Age of Jackson. By following Virginia's American Revolution from start to finish, this account shows why so many revolutionaries in the Old Dominion died doubting that their great struggle had been worth the effort.

Contents:

Establishing a republic

Implementing the Revolution, 1776-1788

The Virginia Ratification Convention of 1788

Defending Virginia's Revolution against the federalists

"May all your dreams come true"

"Like dust and ashes"

Conclusion: The road from Southampton.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 209-225) and index.

ISBN:

9780739121313

0739121316

OCLC:

145431656