King and Congress : The Transfer of Political Legitimacy, 1774-1776

A persuasive reassessment of the nature of the institution that was in the forefront of the American revolutionary struggle with Great Britain--the Continental Congress. Providing a completely new perspective on the history of the First and Second Continental Congresses before independence, the author argues that American expectations regarding the proper functions of a legitimate central government were formed under the British monarchy, and that these functions were primarily executive. Originally published in 1987. The **Princeton Legacy Library** uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905. A persuasive reassessment of the nature of the institution that was in the forefront of the American revolutionary struggle with Great Britain--the Continental Congress. Providing a completely new perspective on the history of the First and Second Continental Congresses before independence, the author argues that American expectations regarding the proper functions of a legitimate central government were formed under the British monarchy, and that these functions were primarily executive. Originally published in 1987. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These paperback editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905 Contents Acknowledgments Introduction PART I: KING CHAPTER 1: The King's Authority CHAPTER 2: The Abdication of George III PART II: CONGRESS CHAPTER 3: The First Congress Assumes Authority CHAPTER 4: The Association of 1 7 7 4 CHAPTER 5: Congress and Protection CHAPTER 6: Problems of Unity CHAPTER 7: Congress and Unity: Foreign Affairs CHAPTER 8: Congress and Internal Union CHAPTER 9: Congress Grants Authority for Government CHAPTER 10: A National Executive or A National Legislature A Note on Terminology Appendix: Local and Provincial Resolutions, 1774 Notes Index