Page 164 - American Stories, A History of the United States

6 the Republican

experiment 1783–1788

A New Political Morality
I n 1788, Lewis Hallam and

John Henry petitioned the
General Assembly of Pennsylvania
to open a theater in Philadelphia.
Although a 1786 state law banned the
performance of stage plays and “disorderly
sports,” many Philadelphia leaders favored
the request to hold “dramatic representa-
tions” in their city. A committee appointed
to study the issue concluded that a theater
would contribute to “the general refine-
ment of manners and the polish of society.”
Some supporters even argued that the
sooner the United States had a professional
theater the sooner it would escape the “for-
eign yoke” of British culture.
Quakers dismissed these claims: Such
“seminaries of lewdness and irreligion”
would quickly undermine “the virtue of
the people. . . . [N]o sooner is a playhouse
opened than it becomes surrounded with . . .
brothels.” Since Pennsylvania was already
suffering from a “stagnation of commerce
[and] a scarcity of money”—unmistakable

Le ARNIN g O B J e C T i v e S

Liberty DispLaying the arts anD sciences The
6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Library Company of Philadelphia commissioned this painting by
Samuel Jennings.
What were Why did many Why did What issues
the limits of Americans Constitutional separated
equality in the regard the delegates Federalists
“republican” Articles of compromise on from
society of the Confederation representation Antifederalists
new United as inadequate? and slavery? during
States? p. 133 p. 141 p. 145 debates over
ratification?
p. 151

Listen to Chapter 6 on MyHistoryLab