Final answer:
Post-American Revolution, the relief of the poor was primarily handled by state and local authorities, guided by constitutional principles emphasizing rights to life, liberty, and property, and influenced by Enlightenment ideals.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the American Revolution, the relief of the poor and the welfare of citizens primarily came under the jurisdiction of state and local governments. The rights of life, liberty, and property were emphasized in state constitutions that were adopted during and after the Revolution. These rights were reflective of Enlightenment ideals and the principles established in the 1689 Bill of Rights and Act of Religious Toleration. Additionally, the Constitution of 1789 began to embed these values into the legal framework of the new nation. Relief efforts would have followed these principles, aiming to not intrude upon the rights to life, liberty, and property without reason while balancing the need for order.
The era following the Revolution was marked by significant changes, including more widespread land ownership among farmers, the lowering of property qualifications for voting, the abolition of slavery in some states, and established religious freedom. These changes demonstrated an effort to extend rights and improve equality among the dispossessed lower classes. Thus, the relief of the poor became a responsibility guided by these expanding freedoms and constitutional protections.