Explore the clash of liberty and law in Rhode Island during a pivotal era, through the eyes of reformers and opponents.
This nonfiction work examines arguments about rights, government, and religion as it looks at the Rhode Island crisis. It weighs ideas of popular sovereignty, civil order, and the tension between individual rights and collective authority.
- Delivers a historical snapshot of debates on liberty, law, and constitutional change.
- Includes contemporary takes on the Dorr movement, Charterists, and the fight over state power.
- Offers reflections on how religious leaders and political actors shaped public opinion.
- Presents a framework for understanding how societies balance rights with government authority.
Ideal for readers of 19th‑century American political thought and civil rights history.