Thomas Dorr and the Extention of the Vote

EBSCO

Open Student Research Center. Search for "Thomas Dorr" and read the following two articles from the result list: "One Person, One Vote" by Tod Olson and "Flash Focus: Law and Order Party of Rhode Island." Use the following questions to guide your note-taking:

"One Person, One Vote"

  1. Who could vote before the reforms began in the mid 1800's?
  2. Approximately what percentage of people were left out of the political process?
  3. Who was Thomas Dorr? Was he one of those left out of the political process?
  4. To what office in what state was Dorr elected?
  5. In October of 1841, Dorr and his followers drafted a new state constitution called “The People's Charter” or “The People's Constitution.” What did this constitution proclaim?
  6. In 1842, there was an election for governer of the Rhode Island . What happened? Who won?
  7. Who was Samuel Ward King?
  8. In June, 1843 there was “Dorr's Rebellion.” What was it?
  9. What become of Thomas Dorr?
  10. Did his efforts further the cause of universal suffrage?

"Flash Focus: Law and Order Party of Rhode Island"

  1. Since colonial times, who had the right to vote in Rhode Island ?
  2. What was Dorr's Rebellion? (read the paragraph under “Male Suffrage” to help with this answer).
  3. At the convention in 1841, Thomas Dorr and his supporters wrote a new constitution. What did this constitution include?
  4. How did Thomas Dorr become the “governer” of Rhode Island ?
  5. Did the established government accept Dorr's new government? What did they do?
  6. What was the "Law and Order Party?" What did they do to Dorr?
  7. What was the impact of Dorr's Rebellion? (What did the Law and Order Party do after Dorr's Rebellion to please the people?)
  8. Who ultimately gave Rhode Island African American men and most other males the right to vote? Why is this ironic?

ICONN

Do a general search for "Thomas Dorr." From DIScovering US History, read "Dorr Rebellion and the Growth of Political Democracy, 1840-1843." Use the following questions to guide your note-taking.

  1. To whom did the Rhode Island Constitution give the right to vote before the mid-1800's?
  2. How did the development of industry make the voting requirements in Rhode Island even more unfair?
  3. What was the “Algerine” law?
  4. After Dorr's Rebellion (and because of pressure to extend voting rights) a new constitution was put into effect in May, 1843. How did this constitution chance the voting rights for native-born citizens? Did they still need to own property? What about foreign-born citizens? Did they still need to own property? What about women? Who, on balance, was included in the political system and who was excluded?

Links:

The Dorr Rebellion Museum -- Web page from a site dedicated to Thomas Dorr and his legacy in Rhode Island. Use the following questions to guide your note-taking.

  1. Describe briefly Dorr's background and education.
  2. What was the colonial charter of 1663? To whom did it give the right to vote?
  3. What was the People's Convention? Was it accepted by the established government (the legislature)?
  4. What was the People's Constitution? What reforms did it make?
  5. Under this constitution, who was voted into the seat of governer?
  6. What was the “Law and Order” party? Who did they vote into the seat of governer?
  7. Describe the clash that occurred between the Law and Order Party and the reformers.
  8. What became of Thomas Dorr?
  9. Did his efforts make an impact? How was he able to further the cause of universal suffrage?

The Extention of the Vote -- Portion of a chapter from The Right to Vote by Carole Lynn Corbin.* Use the following questions to guide your note-taking.

* Corbin, Carole Lynn. The Right to Vote. New York: Franklin Watts, 1985.

  1. Under the era of Jackson and reform, voting rights were extended in many states to more people. What two states were resisting this trend toward democracy?
  2. What Association did Thomas Dorr found in 1840? What did this association want? What was written on their badges?
  3. When the People's Convention met and elected Dorr governer of the Rhode Island , what did the established government call this action?
  4. What was Dorr's famous quote upon his arrest?
  5. Before Dorr was sentenced, the Rhode Island government had extended voting rights. To whom were these rights extended? How were they different from the previous rights?