Peasants with pitchforks: property qualifications and the contested right to vote

The removal of property qualifications was the first major expansion of the American franchise and a significant moment in the history of franchise rights worldwide. Existing literature focuses primarily on the state level historiography or the progressive narrative of American enfranchisement. This dissertation suggests that the early franchise expanded not out of altruism, ideology, or social evolution (high politics) but was rather dictated by partisan politics and institutional strategy (low politics). By focusing on partisan politics and strategic behavior we can better understand how property qualifications were removed and also place the events in comparative prospective with other major advances in the franchise.