The Deepest Piece of Cunning [Elektronische Ressource] : conspiracy theory and the Society of the Cincinnati, 1783 - 1790 / vorgelegt von Markus Hünemörder

Markus Hünemörder

Informations

• Publié par: ludwig-maximilians-universitat_munchen
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2003
• Nombre de lectures: 15
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

The ‘Deepest Piece of Cunning’
Conspiracy Theory and the Society of the Cincinnati, 1783-1790





Inaugural-Dissertation
zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades der Philosophie
an der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
München





vorgelegt von
Markus Hünemörder
aus
München




München, 2003
ii
Erstgutachter: Prof. Dr. Berndt Ostendorf
Zweitgutachter: Prof. Dr. Michael Wala
Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 21.7.2003


iii
What is to be done with the Cincinnati: is that order of Chivalry, that In-
road upon our first Principle, Equality, to be connived at? It is the deep-
est Piece of Cunning yet attempted.
1John Adams
1 John Adams to Elbridge Gerry, 25 April 1785, Elbridge Gerry Papers, DLC. iv
ContentsContents
Preface and Acknowledgements .......................................................................................vii
Abbreviations........................................................................................................................ x
Abstract ................................................................................................................................ xi
Introduction: Conspiracy Theory and America ................................................................. 1
The Conspiracy Theory about the Society of the Cincinnati................................. 4
Historiography .......................................................................................................... 8
An American Conspiracy Theory.......................................................................... 16
1. The Theory of Conspiracy ............................................................................................. 24
Considering Conspiracy Theory ............................................................................ 24
The Conspiracy Theories of Ignorance and Society ............................................. 25
Themes of Counter-Subversion ............................................................................. 27
The Paranoid Style.................................................................................................. 30
The Ideological School ........................................................................................... 33
The Paranoid Style Revisited ................................................................................. 37
German Insights...................................................................................................... 41
Rejecting the Paranoid Style.................................................................................. 44
Controversies and Definition 49
Levels of Analysis ................................................................................................... 51
2. The Price of Peace: The End of the Continental Army and the Creation of the
Society of the Cincinnati.................................................................................................... 57
Problems of Supply and Pay .................................................................................. 58
Pensions, Commutation, and Congressional Finances ......................................... 61
The Newburgh Crisis.............................................................................................. 64
Founding the Society of the Cincinnati ................................................................ 69
The Philadelphia Mutiny ....................................................................................... 76 v
3. A Political Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: The Conspiracy Theory against the Society of
the Cincinnati..................................................................................................................... 86
A Chronology of Fear............................................................................................. 86
A French Blessing ................................................................................................... 94
Patricians of America 98
King George IV ..................................................................................................... 106
The Shadow Government .................................................................................... 109
Thieves of Memory............................................................................................... 114
Was it a Conspiracy Theory? ............................................................................... 118
4. The Wicked and Traitorous Fabrication: The Society of the Cincinnati Controversy
and the Constitution ........................................................................................................ 127
Commutation: Obstacle to Constitutional Reform............................................. 127
Fears of Cincinnati Influence over Constitutional Reform................................ 132
Convention and Ratification................................................................................ 138
The New Republic ................................................................................................ 147
5. One Society of Friends: Cincinnati Reactions to Conspiracy Theory....................... 157
The Cincinnati on the Defensive......................................................................... 157
A Society Reformed.............................................................................................. 167
A Reform Rejected 174
The Impact of a Failed Reform ............................................................................ 181
6. Was it all true? The Politics of the Society of the Cincinnati ................................... 189
Monarchy and Nobility........................................................................................ 189
Rebellion and Constitutional Reform.................................................................. 194
Cincinnati Politics under a Federalist Government ........................................... 203
7. Guardians of the Republic: The Critics of the Society of the Cincinnati.................. 217
Profiles in Suspicion ............................................................................................. 217
The Man from Marblehead: Elbridge Gerry ....................................................... 222
The Spear of Ithuriel: Aedanus Burke ................................................................. 227 vi
The Good Doctor: Benjamin Gale........................................................................ 232
Fighting the Good Fight:
Political Actions and Strategies against the Cincinnati...................................... 238
8. Between two Revolutions: The “Order of the Cincinnati” in France ....................... 248
A French Connection ........................................................................................... 248
A Threat to Republicanism or to Monarchy? ..................................................... 252
Jacobins and Cincinnati........................................................................................ 257
9. Republican Fears and Confusions: The Context of Conspiracy Theory in the Critical
Period ................................................................................................................................ 266
The Fear of a Standing Army ............................................................................... 267
The Jealousy of Power.......................................................................................... 278
The Problem of Equality ...................................................................................... 285
Economic Depression and Political Crisis........................................................... 295
Conclusion: Causes and Effects........................................................................................ 307
Appendix: Aedanus Burke’s Considerations ................................................................... 316
Selected Bibliography....................................................................................................... 340
Manuscript Collections......................................................................................... 340
Newspapers ........................................................................................................... 341
Contemporary Pamphlets and Books .................................................................. 342
Documentary Editions.......................................................................................... 344
Secondary Sources ................................................................................................ 348 vii
Preface and AcknowledgementsPreface and Acknowledgements
This study is the result of my dual fascination with American politics, especially
the Constitution, and American popular culture. Ever since my early studies in US his-
tory, I was struck with the power and flexibility of the Constitution and I became an
admirer of the men and women who had drafted and debated that most persistent of
democratic political systems. I quickly realized that the Antifederalists contributed as
much as the Framers to the political culture of the United States. The critics of the
Constitution focused