Dorr's Rebellion Parade (1842) On this day in 1842, "Dorrites", members of a working class movement that sought reforms in Rhode Island, held an inauguration parade for their leader Thomas Dorr,...
Dorr's Rebellion Parade (1842) On this day in 1842, "Dorrites", members of a working class movement that sought reforms in Rhode Island, held an inauguration parade for their leader Thomas Dorr,...
Dorr's Rebellion Parade (1842)
Tue May 03, 1842
Image: A drawing of a Dorrite protest with the caption "Dorr flourishing the Sword he received in New York, makes great professions of what he would do"
On this day in 1842, "Dorrites", members of a working class movement that sought reforms in Rhode Island, held an inauguration parade for their leader Thomas Dorr, convening a "People's Legislature" and attacking a state arsenal.
The Dorr Rebellion (1841 - 1842) was an attempt by white working class residents to force broader democracy in the U.S. state of Rhode Island, where a small rural elite was in control of government - owning land was a qualification to vote. It was led by affluent lawyer Thomas Wilson Dorr, who mobilized the disenfranchised to demand changes to the state's electoral rules.
In 1841, the movement held a "People's Convention", where they created their own state constitution, ratifying it and electing Dorr for governor the following year. Although Dorr himself supported giving black men the right to vote, the constitution only enfranchised white men.
On this day in 1842, members of this movement held an inauguration parade for the Dorr and attempted to create the new government. A "People's Legislature" (elected earlier) convened, and Dorr himself led a failed attack on the state arsenal, quickly fleeing the state to avoid arrest.
Eventually, Dorr returned to the state and was convicted of treason. Dorrites made a case to the Supreme Court that the "People's Convention" constitution was the legitimate one for Rhode Island, but lost the case in "Luther v. Borden". This case set a long standing precedent that the Court would not interfere in "political" questions, which it would leave to the executive and legislative branches.
- Date: 1842-05-03
- Learn More: libcom.org, en.wikipedia.org.
- Source: www.apeoplescalendar.org