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The Democratic Societies of the 1790S University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020-11-27 “Fire-Brands of Sedition”: The Democratic Societies of the 1790s Carr, Chloe Madison Carr, C. M. (2020). “Fire-Brands of Sedition”: The Democratic Societies of the 1790s (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. http://hdl.handle.net/1880/112798 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY “Fire-Brands of Sedition”: The Democratic Societies of the 1790s by Chloe Madison Carr A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS GRADUATE PROGRAM IN HISTORY CALGARY, ALBERTA NOVEMBER, 2020 © Chloe Madison Carr 2020 ii Abstract The citizen-led Democratic-Republican or Democratic societies in the United States represented a new era of political discourse in the 1790s. Members of these societies, frustrated by their sense that the emerging Federalist executive branch of government was becoming dangerously elitist, and alienated by decision-making in Congress, met regularly to compose resolutions to publish in local and national papers and so make their concerns widely known. Many Federalists, in and out of government, became wary of these societies and their increased presence in the public sphere. Federalists believed the political participation of ordinary citizens should be limited, and political demonstrations should either show support for governmental policy or exhibit bipartisan patriotism through parades and similar celebrations. As manifestations of political opposition by common citizens, the Democratic societies seemed threatening. This thesis studies the organization of these societies, and their interactions with political opponents in the press and public sphere, to explore some long-held misconceptions about their participation in political debate in the 1790s. First, this thesis brings into question the role of Democratic societies in the Whiskey Rebellion, initially described by Federalists and then repeated by generations of historians. The thesis then turns to similar misconceptions surround the timing and reasons for the societies’ demise. Many have argued, under the influence of Federalist victory celebrations over the societies, that they withered away following President Washington’s harsh condemnation of them in 1794, but some of them survived into the nineteenth century. Finally, this thesis examines the period between 1795 and 1800, and the Democratic societies’ presence in the public sphere in spite of strict Federalist policies during John Adams’ presidency. As the Federalists had long popularized the narrative which depicted iii the societies as impotent and seditious rebels, incorrect assumptions about their values and longevity have endured even until today. I argue, based on this evidence, that while the Federalists were in an advantageous position during the Adams administration to legally suppress political dissent, and described themselves as utter victors over the societies, the Democratic societies endured longer than previously believed, influencing political ideology as late as the 1820s. iv Acknowledgements There have been many people who have helped me on my journey through the process of writing my thesis. My supervisor, Dr. Jewel Spangler, has been a mentor to me, and supported me through my degree in all matters of writing, research, and career. From the beginning, your incredible encouragement has supported me through this challenging and rewarding project. I will miss our conversations about historical fiction and our mutual appreciation for Patrick O’Brian’s works. Thank you for your help and support, I could not have done this without you. I would also like to extend my thanks to my defence committee, including Dr. Courtnay Konshuh, Dr. Lyndsay Campbell, and Dr. Joshua D. Goldstein. To the Department of History administrative staff, thank you for your tireless work and for keeping our program running smoothly. Lori Somner, thank you for your welcoming presence, and indispensable work as Graduate Program Advisor. Similarly, to Dr. David B. Marshall, thank you for your encouragement, and for your entertaining and enlightening lectures. Your classes gave me a new appreciation for Canadian history and the art of the biography. To my cohort and fellow students, Xumeng, Blake, Amy, Stacey, and Sam, you have all been wonderful people who I could always trust. Thank you for your hard work and for making these years so enjoyable. To my parents, you have encouraged me and helped me in more ways than I can express. Thank you for taking care of me and supporting me both at home and abroad, for tolerating the mountains of books and papers throughout the house, and for providing feedback on all my work. To my sister, thank you for your patience and for lending an ear to a barrage of historical nonsense, and for being there whenever I’ve needed someone to talk to. 1 Table of Contents Abstract.......................................................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3 Historiography .......................................................................................................................... 8 Chapter One: Forming the Democratic Societies in a Storm of Criticism ............................ 16 The Democratic Societies ....................................................................................................... 19 1780s and 1790s Political Climate ......................................................................................... 27 Beginning of Partisan Press ................................................................................................... 34 “Fire-Brands of Sedition” and Self Creation ....................................................................... 36 Jacobinism in the U.S. ............................................................................................................ 40 Citizen Genêt Affair ................................................................................................................ 42 Myth of Genêt .......................................................................................................................... 48 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 50 Chapter Two: The Whiskey Rebellion: Turning Point ........................................................... 52 Excise Tax, Policy, and Rebellion .......................................................................................... 53 The Mingo Creek Association ................................................................................................ 59 Washington’s Condemnation ................................................................................................. 67 Congressional Debates ............................................................................................................ 70 Federalist Response ................................................................................................................ 73 Historiography ........................................................................................................................ 86 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 81 Chapter Three: Sedition, Censure, and Decline of the Democratic Societies, 1795-1800 .... 83 Counting Democratic Societies .............................................................................................. 87 Jay’s Treaty ............................................................................................................................. 90 Public Response ....................................................................................................................... 91 XYZ Affair ............................................................................................................................... 98 Quasi-War and Widespread Paranoia ................................................................................ 102 Adams’ Alien and Sedition Acts .......................................................................................... 107 The Demise of the Democratic Societies, 1796-1800 .......................................................... 111 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 119 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 124 2 Bibliography .............................................................................................................................
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