Toleration Party
Encyclopedia
The Toleration Party was a political party active in Connecticut
in the early 19th century. The 'American' name referred not to nativism
or the later American Party
, but the fact that it viewed itself as a nationally-oriented party.
The Federalist Party had been dominant in Connecticut, holding a near-monopoly on power, since its foundation. The Democratic-Republican Party was established in Connecticut in 1801, but succeeded in winning merely 33 of 200 seats in the Connecticut General Assembly
at best. However, after the War of 1812
(which saw the Hartford Convention
and the blue lantern affair
in the state) the Federalist power began to wane. The Federalists were affiliated with the Congregationalist Church
, which was still the established church of Connecticut (Connecticut was the last state to disestablish
its state church; all other states had done so by the 1790s). All residents of the state had to pay a tithe
, which irritated members of other sects, especially the Episcopals
. Episcopals in Connecticut were largely wealthy and at odds with the Federalists and pre-Federalists dating back to the American Revolution
but avoided joining the Democratic-Republicans due to the party being too radical for them. A group of Episcopals had put up bonds for a state bank, only for the Federalist government to avoid paying them back. This was the immediate impetus that led to the creation of the Toleration Party.
The Toleration Party was established at a state convention held at New Haven
on February 21, 1816. The party was formed by an alliance of the more conservative Episcopals with the Democratic-Republicans, along with a number of former Federalists and other religious dissenters, specifically Baptists, Methodist
s, Unitarian
s, and Universalist
s. Pierpont Edwards
played a large part in the party's creation, and the party nominated Oliver Wolcott, Jr.
and Jonathan Ingersoll
as candidates for governor and lieutenant-governor, respectively. Wolcott had been a former Federalist and Ingersoll a Democratic-Republican.
In the 1817 elections, the Toleration Party swept control of the General Assembly, with Wolcott and Ingersoll winning election to their executive branch positions. This gave them the political capital
to call for a convention to draw up a new state constitution; 111 of the 201 delegates belonged to the Toleration Party. The resulting Constitution of 1818 generally adhered to the Tolerationists' platform, especially their two major issues of increasing the electorate and democratic nature of the government and disestablishing the Congregational Church. The Tolerationist constitution would be used in Connecticut until 1965.
The Tolerationist Party, although generally independent of the national Democratic-Republican Party, was allied to them. Wolcott was the only governor elected by the ticket; he was in office until 1827, and his successor, Gideon Tomlinson
, was nominated by the Democratic-Republican Party itself. By the end of the 1820s the Tolerationists had developed into the Jacksonian
branch of the Connecticut Democratic Party
, while the Connecticut Federalists and more orthodox Democratic-Republicans had become the state Whig Party
.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
in the early 19th century. The 'American' name referred not to nativism
Nativism (politics)
Nativism favors the interests of certain established inhabitants of an area or nation as compared to claims of newcomers or immigrants. It may also include the re-establishment or perpetuation of such individuals or their culture....
or the later American Party
Know Nothing
The Know Nothing was a movement by the nativist American political faction of the 1840s and 1850s. It was empowered by popular fears that the country was being overwhelmed by German and Irish Catholic immigrants, who were often regarded as hostile to Anglo-Saxon Protestant values and controlled by...
, but the fact that it viewed itself as a nationally-oriented party.
The Federalist Party had been dominant in Connecticut, holding a near-monopoly on power, since its foundation. The Democratic-Republican Party was established in Connecticut in 1801, but succeeded in winning merely 33 of 200 seats in the Connecticut General Assembly
Connecticut General Assembly
The Connecticut General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is a bicameral body composed of the 151-member House of Representatives and the 36-member Senate. It meets in the state capital, Hartford. There are no term limits for either chamber.During...
at best. However, after the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
(which saw the Hartford Convention
Hartford Convention
The Hartford Convention was an event spanning from December 15, 1814–January 4, 1815 in the United States during the War of 1812 in which New England's opposition to the war reached the point where secession from the United States was discussed...
and the blue lantern affair
Blue light federalists
Blue-light Federalist was a derogatory term used by those who believed certain Federalists to have made friendly signals to British ships in the War of 1812 to warn the British of American blockade runners, the specific event supposedly happening in 1813, in New London, Connecticut, when Commodore...
in the state) the Federalist power began to wane. The Federalists were affiliated with the Congregationalist Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
, which was still the established church of Connecticut (Connecticut was the last state to disestablish
Disestablishmentarianism
Disestablishmentarianism today relates to the Church of England in the United Kingdom and related views on its establishment as an established church....
its state church; all other states had done so by the 1790s). All residents of the state had to pay a tithe
Tithe
A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...
, which irritated members of other sects, especially the Episcopals
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
. Episcopals in Connecticut were largely wealthy and at odds with the Federalists and pre-Federalists dating back to the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
but avoided joining the Democratic-Republicans due to the party being too radical for them. A group of Episcopals had put up bonds for a state bank, only for the Federalist government to avoid paying them back. This was the immediate impetus that led to the creation of the Toleration Party.
The Toleration Party was established at a state convention held at New Haven
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
on February 21, 1816. The party was formed by an alliance of the more conservative Episcopals with the Democratic-Republicans, along with a number of former Federalists and other religious dissenters, specifically Baptists, Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
s, Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
s, and Universalist
Christian Universalism
Christian Universalism is a school of Christian theology which includes the belief in the doctrine of universal reconciliation, the view that all human beings or all fallen creatures will ultimately be restored to right relationship with God....
s. Pierpont Edwards
Pierpont Edwards
Pierpont Edwards was a delegate to the American Continental Congress, and later a United States federal judge. He has been described as "a brilliant but erratic member of the Connecticut bar, tolerant in religious matters and bitterly hated by stern Calvinists, a man whose personal morality...
played a large part in the party's creation, and the party nominated Oliver Wolcott, Jr.
Oliver Wolcott, Jr.
Oliver Wolcott, Jr. was United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1795 to 1800 and the 24th Governor of Connecticut from 1817 to 1827.-Youth and education:...
and Jonathan Ingersoll
Jonathan Ingersoll
Jonathan Ingersoll was a Connecticut politician of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.He was graduated from Yale College in 1766...
as candidates for governor and lieutenant-governor, respectively. Wolcott had been a former Federalist and Ingersoll a Democratic-Republican.
In the 1817 elections, the Toleration Party swept control of the General Assembly, with Wolcott and Ingersoll winning election to their executive branch positions. This gave them the political capital
Political capital
Political capital is primarily based on a public figure's favorable image among the populace and among other important factors in or out of the government. Political capital is essentially the opinion of another person, group of people, or nation about you, your organization, or your government...
to call for a convention to draw up a new state constitution; 111 of the 201 delegates belonged to the Toleration Party. The resulting Constitution of 1818 generally adhered to the Tolerationists' platform, especially their two major issues of increasing the electorate and democratic nature of the government and disestablishing the Congregational Church. The Tolerationist constitution would be used in Connecticut until 1965.
The Tolerationist Party, although generally independent of the national Democratic-Republican Party, was allied to them. Wolcott was the only governor elected by the ticket; he was in office until 1827, and his successor, Gideon Tomlinson
Gideon Tomlinson
Gideon Tomlinson was a United States Senator, United States Representative, and the 25th Governor for the state of Connecticut....
, was nominated by the Democratic-Republican Party itself. By the end of the 1820s the Tolerationists had developed into the Jacksonian
Jacksonian democracy
Jacksonian democracy is the political movement toward greater democracy for the common man typified by American politician Andrew Jackson and his supporters. Jackson's policies followed the era of Jeffersonian democracy which dominated the previous political era. The Democratic-Republican Party of...
branch of the Connecticut Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, while the Connecticut Federalists and more orthodox Democratic-Republicans had become the state Whig Party
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
.
Sources
- Connecticut in Transition: 1775-1818, by Richard J. Purcell. Wesleyan University PressWesleyan University PressWesleyan University Press is a university press that is part of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. The Press is currently directed by Suzanna Tamminen, a published poet and essayist...
, Middletown, ConnecticutMiddletown, ConnecticutMiddletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
, 1963. - 350 Years of Connecticut Government, by Ralph Gregory Elliot, United States Constitution Bicentennial Commission of Connecticut, 1991.