Three decades of disorder followed the establishment of representative government in Newfoundland in 1832. The pressures and processes during these years have given Newfoundland a political history peculiarly its own. This study examines the structure of the early political parties, the causes of popular tumult, and the effects of constitutional change during this colourful and complex period. First published in 1966, this book is still the most comprehensive investigation of a crucial phase in Newfoundland's political development.