A Constitutional Culture

A Constitutional Culture explores how early American colonists, long before the Revolution, developed a strong regional identity centered on resisting arbitrary authority and defending local political rights. Facing pressures from King Charles II after 1660, diverse groups including non-freemen, indentured servants, and women united in practices and ideas that supported self-governance and civil liberties. Through routines like debates, petitions, and communal observances, they crafted a resilient political ethos rooted in skepticism of imperial power and divine sanction for local authority.