Anti-Rent War facts for kids
The Anti-Rent War (also known as the Helderberg War) was a rebellion by people renting land in upstate New York. This happened between 1839 and 1845. The people, called Anti-Renters, wanted to be free from the old system where powerful landowners, known as patroons, controlled everything. They fought against tax collectors and successfully demanded changes to how land was owned.
Events of the War
The trouble started when Stephen Van Rensselaer III died in 1839. He was a very powerful patroon who owned huge amounts of land. He was known for being kind to his tenants. He let them rent land for their whole lives at fair prices. If tenants had money problems, he often let them pay with goods or services instead of cash. He also allowed them to pay less or pay later.
However, his leases had a rule called a "quarter-sale" provision. This meant if a tenant sold their lease, they had to pay Van Rensselaer a quarter of the sale price. When he died, he had many debts because of a tough financial crisis in 1837. His will said his family must collect all the unpaid rents and quarter-sale payments.
The tenants thought their debts would be forgotten when Van Rensselaer died. But his family demanded the money. The tenants couldn't pay, and the family wouldn't make easy payment plans. The courts also didn't help them. So, the tenants decided to fight back.
The first big meeting of these tenant farmers happened on July 4, 1839. It was held on top of the Helderberg mountains in Berne, New York. They declared their independence, saying they would continue the fight for freedom that their ancestors started.
In December 1839, the Anti-Renters fought off a group of 500 law enforcement officers. This group was led by the Albany County sheriff. Governor William Seward then threatened the rebels with 700 soldiers. The rebels surrendered, but the fight for change didn't stop.
Many Anti-Renters started dressing up as "Calico Indians." They wore disguises and resisted tax collection and law enforcement. Sometimes, they would cover their enemies with tar and feathers.
In January 1845, about 150 representatives from eleven counties met in Berne. They gathered to plan political actions to solve their problems.
Results of the War
The Anti-Rent War led to the creation of a new political group called the Antirenter Party. This party became very important in New York State politics from 1846 to 1851. The new governor, Silas Wright, took action in 1845 to stop the "Calico Indians." He also pushed for a law that made it illegal to wear disguises during protests.
Leaders of the revolt faced trials in 1845. They were accused of causing trouble and other serious actions. Judge Amasa J. Parker oversaw some of these trials. The state attorney general, John Van Buren, led the prosecution. At one trial, the jury couldn't agree, so a new trial was held. During this second trial, the lawyers even got into a fistfight in court!
One of the main defendants, Smith A. Boughton, was sentenced to life in prison. However, after John Young became governor with the support of the Anti-Renters, he pardoned Boughton. This meant Boughton was set free.
Two other Anti-Renters, John Van Steenburgh and Edward O'Connor, were sentenced to death. This was for their part in the shooting of Undersheriff Osman Steele. This event happened during a sheriff's sale at a farm in Andes, New York. The farmer couldn't pay his rent. Governor Young later changed their death sentences to life in prison.
The New York Constitution of 1846 was updated because of the Anti-Rent War. It added rules to protect tenants' rights. It ended the old feudal system of land ownership. It also made it illegal for leases to last longer than twelve years. After these changes, the remaining large land estates quickly broke up as the patroons sold off their lands.
People involved
- Smith A. Boughton, a leader of the Anti-Rent movement.
- John W. Edmonds, a judge who presided over the trials of Anti-Rent leaders.
- Ambrose L. Jordan, a lawyer who defended the Anti-Rent leaders in court.
- William Marcy, who was part of the group of officers trying to stop the Anti-Renter rebellion.
- Edward O'Connor, an Anti-Renter who was found guilty of murdering Undersheriff Osman Steele. His death sentence was later changed to life in prison.
- Amasa J. Parker, a judge who presided over the trials of Anti-Rent leaders.
- William Seward, the governor at the start of the Anti-Rent rebellion. He took steps to try and end it.
- John I. Slingerland, a state politician who supported the tenants during the Anti-Rent War.
- John Van Buren, who helped try to stop the Anti-Renter rebellion and was the prosecutor at the trials of Anti-Renter leaders.
- Lawrence Van Deusen, the president of the Anti-Rent Association in Albany County, New York.
- Stephen Van Rensselaer IV, the heir to the Rensselaerswyck estate. His efforts to collect old rents caused the main conflict.
- John Van Steenburgh, an Anti-Renter who was found guilty of murdering Undersheriff Osman Steele. His death sentence was later changed to life in prison.
- Silas Wright, a governor before John Young. His actions to end the rebellion led to John Young being elected.
- John Young, the governor after the trials. He pardoned Smith Boughton and changed the sentences of other participants.
See also
In Spanish: Guerra Helderberg para niños
