Abstract
This book deals with the conflicts between Patriots and Orangists in Leiden, which will be assessed with the help of the theory of collective action by the American sociologist Charles Tilly. The urban economy in Leiden was dominated by a textile industry that concentrated on exports and was very sensitive
... read more
to international economic fluctuations. In addition, Leiden was the home of the Academy, the most important institution of higher education in the Republic. The presence of professors and students in Leiden always acted like a magnet for printers, publishers and bookdealers. The latter always ensured the dissemination of old and new ideas by means of books, magazines, papers, pamphlets and other printed works. In the eighteenth century, Leiden underwent a period of economic decline. Despite various attempts to jump-start it, the textile industry had shrunk over the years to about half the size of the top years around 1700. The American War of Independence (1775-1783), and in its wake the outbreak of the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War (1780-1784), not only increased the economic problems but also opened up opportunities in new markets. The textile manufacturers then addressed petitions to the city council, the States of Holland and the States General to diplomatically recognize the United States of America and sign a trade agreement to open up new foreign markets for them. This was innovational because the petitions covered both foreign trade and foreign policy. They were supported in this move by the envoy of the new state, John Adams. He worked with Johan Luzac, publisher of the Gazette de Leyde, an internationally renowned newspaper. Luzac was the most important representative of a group inspired by the ideals of the American Revolution, which began to critically examine the political relationships of the Republic. All these efforts resulted in success, and in spring 1782 led to diplomatic recognition of the United States, followed by the signing of the coveted trade agreement. The Patriots consciously used democratization in their attempts to expand the circle of inhabitants who were involved in political decision-making. The Orangists could not ignore this process of increased democratization. In 1784, their demonstrations often turned into urban rebellions and riots, whereas later on, with a few isolated exceptions, they mainly remained peaceful. After the change of power in 1787 and the accompanying large Orangist demonstrations, the democratization process trod water for a while. Another change of power in 1795, whereby the Patriots once again gained control of the city council, resulted in the democratization process going to full steam ahead. For the first time ever, city council elections were held in Leiden. The democratization wave reached its highpoint just before 1800, after which it ebbed away and only reasserted itself fifty years later. It can thus be stated that the form and the content of the collective actions organized by the Patriots and the Orangists in the 1780s resulted in innovation. It was the start of a development that eventually led to today’s democratic society.
show less
