Transition to Democracy in post-revolutionary America

Kierner uses a singular event in her book, Scandal at Bizarre, as a case study of the broader social, economic and political changes going on in late 18^th/early 19^th century colonial America.  As she states in her Preface, “their story can be understood as symptomatic of broader problems and issues Americans faced in this crucial transitional era.”  In essence, she analyzes the actions (and reactions) of the key actors to this event in relation to their environment to address the historical question of “what were the drivers of change and the sources of conflict in post-revolutionary America?”

 To answer the question, Kierner uses the participants in the scandal – Thomas Randolph, Judith Randolph and Nancy Randolph – to provide a personalized but gender based view of the roles, attributes, social/legal constraints of men and women at this time.  The fallout of the scandal on Nancy’s reputation and status, women’s dependence on men for economic support, and society’s depiction of Thomas and Nancy in gossip are presented. Similar to Joan Scott’s concept of “tensions”, Kiernan addresses the conflicts that within family (Nancy’s action seen as tarnishing the reputation and standing of the family name, as well as the personal conflict between herself and Judith), conflict between men and women (marriage decisions, financial dependence, legal status) and political conflict (pro or anti-slavery, Republican or Federalist, Jefferson). 

But I believe the primary driver of change was the economic deterioration of the gentry “class” post-revolution, and the resultant loss of standing and honor – really a loss of agency, as they saw their financial status diminish and the impact on way of life.  Thomas Randolph’s generation, raised in an environment of wealth and entitlement, found themselves weighted by debt and encumbered by a set of social and political values that were not suited to this new economic situation.  They engaged in actions to restore honor - Thomas Randolph’s determination to be found not guilty by the courts, and to launch a public vindication through the newspapers, is an effort to restore his standing with his peers.  The continuous attacks on Nancy through gossip, letter campaigns and the court system were an effort to get her inheritance and sway public opinion against her virtue.  The politics of the Federalists was an attempt to return to a gentry elite instead of more democratic form of government.  Ultimately, most lacked the financial or political power to stop the transition to a more democratic social and political system in “Jefferson’s America”.