The Declaration of Independence in historical context : American state papers, petitions, proclamations, and letters of the delegates to the First National Congresses

"Political science professor Barry Shain has collected 174 letters, papers, petitions, and proclamations from the years directly preceding the creation of the Declaration of Independence that challenge many of the dominant narratives that shape contemporary understanding of this all-important document. Rather than arising from strong philosophical convictions and a clearly perceived vision of the future, the Declaration, as these writings demonstrate, was more the result of chance occurrences and practical considerations, and reflective of a society less rebellion-minded and far more monarchically inclined than most Americans today have been taught to believe"-- Provided by publisher Cover Contents Acknowledgments Document Chronology Note to the Reader Introduction. Three Congresses, Anglo-American Constitutionalism, and British Imperialism and Monarchy: In Search of a New/Old Approach to Understanding American Revolutionary-Era History ACT I: THE STAMP ACT CRISIS, 1764–1766 1. New York Petitions Opposing the Sugar, Currency, and Stamp Acts, October 18, 1764 1.1. Petition to the King 1.2. Petition to the House of Commons 2. A Massachusetts Protest against the Sugar Act, November 3, 1764 2.1. Petition to the House of Commons 3. Virginia Petitions to the King and Parliament, December 18, 1764 3.1. Petition to the King 3.2. Memorial to the House of Lords 3.3. Remonstrance to the House of Commons 4. Colonial Resolves Opposing the Stamp Act, June–December 1765 4.1. Virginia Resolves in Governor Fauquier’s Account, June 5, 1765 4.2. Virginia Resolves as Printed in the Journal of the House of Burgesses, June 1765 4.3. Virginia Resolves as Recalled by Patrick Henry, June 1765 4.4. Virginia Resolves as Printed by the Newport Mercury, June 24, 1765 4.5. Pennsylvania Resolves, September 21, 1765 4.6. Maryland Resolves, September 28, 1765 4.7. Connecticut Resolves, October 25, 1765 4.8. Massachusetts Resolves, October 29, 1765 4.9. South Carolina Resolves, November 29, 1765 4.10. New Jersey Resolves, November 30, 1765 4.11. New York Resolves, December 18, 1765 5. Statements of the Stamp Act Congress, October 1765 5.1. Declaration of Rights and Grievances, October 19, 1765 5.2. Petition to the King, October 21, 1765 5.3. Petition to the House of Commons, October 21, 1765 5.4. Report of the Committee to Whom Was Referred the Considerations of the Rights of the British Colonies, October 8–18(?), 1765 6. Statements of the Sons of Liberty, December 1765–March 1766 6.1. Statement of the Sons of Liberty of New London, Connecticut, December 10, 1765 6.2. Union in Arms, December 25, 1765 6.3. Statement of the Sons of Liberty of North Carolina, February 18, 1766 6.4. Statement of the Sons of Liberty of New Brunswick, New Jersey, February 25, 1766 6.5. Statement of the Sons of Liberty of Norfolk, Virginia, March 31, 1766 7. Benjamin Franklin Defends the Colonies before Parliament, February 1766 7.1. Examination of Franklin in the House of Commons, February 13, 1766 8. Parliament’s Immediate Resolution of the Imperial Crisis, March 1766 8.1. An Act Repealing the Stamp Act, March 18, 1766 8.2. Declaratory Act, March 18, 1766 8.3. Samuel Adams to Christopher Gadsden, December 11, 1766 ACT II: RESPONSE TO THE COERCIVE ACTS, 1774 9. Massachusetts Opposition to the Declaratory Act and the Coercive Acts, September 1774 9.1. Suffolk Resolves, September 17, 1774 9.2. John Adams, Diary Entry, September 17, 1774 9.3. Samuel Adams to Joseph Warren, September 25, 1774 9.4. John Adams to William Tudor, September 29, 1774 10. A Design for Unifying the Colonies within the Empire, September 1774 10.1. Joseph Galloway, "Plan of Union," September 28, 1774 10.2. Joseph Galloway, Statement on His "Plan of Union" (beginning), September 28, 1774 10.3. Joseph Galloway, Statement on His "Plan of Union" (continued), September 28, 1774 10.4. John Adams, Notes of Debates, September 28, 1774 10.5. Albany Plan of Union, July 9, 1754 11. Colonial Boycotts of British Goods, September–October 1774 11.1. Nonimportation, Noncomsumption, and Nonexportation Resolutions, September 27 and 30, 1774 11.2. Continental Association, October 20, 1774 11.3. John Adams, Proposed Resolutions, September 30, 1774 11.4. Congressional Resolutions, October 7–11, 1774 12. Congress Defends Itself to Metropolitan Britons and Continental Colonists, October 21, 1774 12.1. Address to the People of Great Britain 12.2. Memorial to the Inhabitants of British America 13. A Statement of Principles and Complaints, October 1774 13.1. Bill of Rights and List of Grievances, October 18–26, 1774 13.2. James Duane, Propositions before the Committee on Rights, September 7–22, 1774 13.3. John Adams, Notes of Debates, September 8, 1774 13.4. Silas Deane to Thomas Mumford, October 16, 1774 14. Messages to Other British Colonies, October 1774 14.1. Messages to the Colonies of St. John's, Nova Scotia, Georgia, East Florida, and West Florida, October 22, 1774 14.2. "To the Inhabitants of the Province of Quebec," October 26, 1774 15. Congress Pleads with George III, October 1774 15.1. Petition to the King, October 26, 1774 15.2. Silas Deane, Diary Entries, October 1 and 3, 1774 15.3. Congressional Resolutions, October 3 and 5, 1774 15.4. Patrick Henry, Draft Petition to the King, October 21, 1774 ACT III: THE FIGHTING BEGINS, 1775 16. Congress Justifies Itself to Canadian and American Colonists, May 1775 16.1. "To the Oppressed Inhabitants of Canada," May 29, 1775 16.2. Certain Resolutions Respecting the State of America, May 26, 1775 17. Political Recommendations for Massachusetts and Religious Recommendations for the Colonies, June 1775 17.1. Response to Massachusetts Bay's Request for Instructions on Forming a New Government, June 2, 3, and 9, 1775 17.2. First Proclamation for a Day of Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer, June 12, 1775 18. Congress Plans for War, July 1775 18.1. Declaration on Taking Arms, July 6, 1775 18.2. George III, Speech from the Throne at the Opening of Parliament, November 30, 1774 18.3. New England Restraining Act, March 30, 1775 19. Congress Issues a Final Plea for Peace, July 1775 19.1. Olive Branch Petition to the King, July 8, 1775 19.2. John Dickinson to Arthur Lee, July 1775 20. Congress Appeals to Britons, July 8, 1775 20.1. The Twelve United Colonies to the Inhabitants of Great Britain 20.2. Congress to the Lord Mayor of London and the Colonial Agents 21. Congress Appeals to Native Americans, July 13, 1775 21.1. A Speech to the Six Confederate Nations 22. Congress Appeals to the Irish, July 28, 1775 22.1. An Address of the Twelve United Colonies to the People of Ireland 23. Congress Rejects Parliament's Peace Overtures, July 1775 23.1. Report on Lord North's Peace Proposal, July 31, 1775 23.2. Grey Cooper's Letter Written for Lord North, May 30, 1775 23.3. The Earl of Chatham, Bill for Settling the Troubles in America, February 1, 1775 23.4. Benjamin Franklin, Vindication, June–July(?) 1775 24. Plans for New Colonial Governments, November–December 1775 24.1. Congress, Response to New Hampshire's Request for Instructions on Forming a New Government, and Instructions for South Carolina and Virginia Concerning Forming New Governments, November 3, November 4, and December 4, 1775 24.2. John Adams, Autobiography, October 18, 1775 24.3. Samuel Ward to Henry Ward, November 2, 1775 24.4. John Adams to Joseph Hawley, November 25, 1775 24.5. Congress to Colonial Agents, November 29, 1775 24.6. Josiah Bartlett to John Langdon, March 5, 1776 25. Congress Responds to the King's Charge of Insurgency, December 1775 25.1. Congress, Answer to the King's Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition, December 6, 1775 25.2. George III, Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition, August 23, 1775 25.3. Edward Rutledge to Ralph Izard, December 8, 1775 25.4. Benjamin Franklin to Charles William Frederic Dumas, December 9, 1775 25.5. Robert Morris to an Unknown Correspondent, December 9, 1775 ACT IV: TOWARD INDEPENDENCE, 1776 26. The State of Affairs in America before and after Paine, January 1776 26.1. "The Origin, Nature, and Extent of the Present Controversy," January 2, 1776 26.2. George III, Speech to Parliament, October 26, 1775 26.3. John Jay, "Essay on Congress and Independence," January 1776 26.4. Josiah Bartlett to John Langdon, January 13, 1776 26.5. John Hancock to Thomas Cushing, January 17, 1776 27. Congressional Moderates' Unpublished Last Defense of Empire and Reconciliation, February 1776 27.1. Address to the Inhabitants of the Colonies, February 13, 1776 27.2. John Dickinson, Proposed Resolutions on a Petition to the King, January 9–24(?), 1776 27.3. Richard Smith, Diary Entry, February 13, 1776 28. American and British Calls for Fasting, March and October 1776 28.1. Second Proclamation for a Day of Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer, March 16, 1776 28.2. George III, A Proclamation for a General Fast, October 30, 1776 29. Congress and Parliament Declare a Trade War—The Colonies' First Steptoward Independence, March 1776 29.1. Declaration on Armed Vessels, March 23, 1776 29.2. American Prohibitory Act, December 22, 1775 29.3. Richard Smith, Diary Entry, March 18, 1776 29.4. Joseph Hewes to Samuel Johnston, March 20, 1776 29.5. Richard Smith, Diary Entry, March 22, 1776 29.6. John Adams to Horatio Gates, March 23, 1776 30. Congress Intensifies the Trade War—A Bolder Step toward Independence, April 1776 30.1. Declaration Opening American Ports to Non- British Trade, April 6, 1776 30.2. Richard Smith, Diary Entry, February 16, 1776 30.3. Abigail Adams to John Adams, March 31, 1776 30.4. John Adams to Abigail Adams, April 14, 1776 30.5. Carter Braxton to Landon Carter, April 14, 1776 30.6. John Adams to Mercy Warren, April 16, 1776 31. More Plans for New Colonial Governments—Almost Independence, May 1776 31.1. Congressional Recommendation to the United Colonies, Where Needed, to Adopt New Governments, May 10 and 15, 1776 31.2. John Adams, Notes of Debates, May 13–15, 1776 31.3. Carter Braxton to Landon Carter, May 17, 1776 31.4. James Duane to John Jay, May 18, 1776 31.5. John Adams to James Warren, May 20, 1776 31.6. Thomas Stone to James Hollyday(?), May 20, 1776 31.7. John Adams to James Sullivan, May 26, 1776 32. Prelude to the Declaration and Independence, June 1776 32.1. Richard Henry Lee, Three Resolutions Respecting Independency, June 7, 8, 10, and 11, 1776 32.2. Resolutions of the Virginia Convention, May 15, 1776 32.3. Address and Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of London to the King, and His Answer, March 22–23, 1776 32.4. Robert Morris to Silas Deane, June 5, 1776 32.5. Edward Rutledge to John Jay, June 8, 1776 32.6. The Maryland Delegates to the Maryland Council of Safety, June 11, 1776 32.7. Thomas Jefferson, Notes of Proceedings in Congress, June 7–28, 1776 33. Independence Is Declared, July 1776 33.1. Resolutions Declaring Independence, and the Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America, June 28, July 1–4, and July 19, 1776 33.2. John Adams to Timothy Pickering, August 6, 1822 33.3. Elbridge Gerry to James Warren, June 25, 1776 33.4. Edward Rutledge to John Jay, June 29, 1776 33.5. Thomas Jefferson, Notes of Proceedings in Congress, July 1–4, 1776 33.6. John Adams, Diary Entries, June 28, July 1, and July 4, 1776 33.7. John Dickinson, Notes for a Speech in Congress, July 1, 1776 33.8. John Adams to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776 ACT V: NEW NATIONS, 1776–1777 34. First Draft of a Plan for a National Government—The Four Principal Issues of Concern, July 1776 34.1. John Dickinson's Committee, Draft of the Articles of Confederation, July 12, 1776 34.2. Thomas Jefferson, Notes of Proceedings in Congress, July 12–August 1, 1776 34.3. Joseph Hewes to Samuel Johnston, July 28, 1776 34.4. John Adams to Abigail Adams, July 29, 1776 34.5. John Adams, Notes of Debates, August 2, 1776 35. A Meager Offer of Peace from the King, July 1776 35.1. Resolution to Publish Lord Howe's Circular Letter and Declaration, July 19, 1776 35.2. Lord Howe, Circular Letter, June 20, 1776 35.3. Lord Howe, Declaration, June 20, 1776 35.4. Congressional Resolution on the Howe Peace Commission, May 6, 1776 35.5. William Ellery to Ezra Stiles(?), July 20, 1776 35.6. Benjamin Franklin to Lord Howe, July 20, 1776 35.7. Robert Morris to Joseph Reed, July 21, 1776 36. The Howe Peace Commission, September 1776 36.1. An Exchange of Letters Preparatory to Arranging a Meeting on Staten Island between Lord Howe and a Committee of Three Congressional Delegates, September 3, 5, and 6, 1776 36.2. Benjamin Rush, Record of Congress Debating Its Response to Howe, September 5, 1776(?) 36.3. Benjamin Franklin to Lord Howe, September 8, 1776 36.4. Henry Strachey, Notes on Lord Howe's Meeting with a Committee of Congress, September 11, 1776 36.5. Report of the Committee Appointed to Confer with Lord Howe, September 17, 1776 37. Difficulties in Overseeing the Continental Army—States versus Congressional Authorities, February 1777 37.1. Report on the Discouraging and Preventing of Desertions from the Continental Army, February 13 and 25, 1777 37.2. John Adams to Henry Knox, September 29, 1776 37.3. Thomas Burke, Notes of Debates, Short Form, February 25, 1777 37.4. Thomas Burke, Notes of Debates, Long Form, February 25, 1777 38. Debating State Sovereignty and a Bicameral National Legislature—Thomas Burke's Amendments to the Articles of Confederation, May 1777 38.1. Debating the Articles of Confederation and Thomas Burke's Failed Amendment, May 5, 1777 38.2. Thomas Burke to Richard Caswell, on Burke's Successful Amendment, April 29, 1777 39. Testing the Extent of Popular Sovereignty—Congress Limits the Reach of the Declaration's Rights Claims, June 1777 39.1. Congressional Response to the Petition of the Inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants for Independence, June 30, 1777 39.2. Declaration and Petition of the Inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants, January 15, 1777 39.3. The New York Delegates to the New York Council of Safety, July 2, 1777 39.4. William Duer to Robert R. Livingston, July 9, 1777 40. Congress' First "National" Day of Thanksgiving and Its Support for Ordering Bibles, September and November 1777 40.1. Congress, Thanksgiving Proclamation, November 1, 1777 40.2. Henry Laurens to the States, November 1, 1777 40.3. Resolution and Vote of Congress on Importing Twenty Thousand Protestant Bibles, July 7 and September 11, 1777 41. Another Inadequate and Unsuccessful British Effort at Reconciliation, November 1777 41.1. The Earl of Chatham, Speech in the House of Lords, November 20, 1777 42. Finalizing the Articles of Confederation and Resolving the Four Principal Issues of Concern, November 1777 42.1. Circular Letter to the States Accompanying the Final Articles of Confederation, November 17, 1777 42.2. Final Votes and Language for Contested Sections of the Articles of Confederation, October 7, October 14, and November 15, 1777 42.3. Cornelius Harnett to Richard Caswell, October 10, 1777 42.4. Cornelius Harnett to Thomas Burke, November 13, 1777 42.5. Richard Henry Lee to Roger Sherman, November 24, 1777 43. Continuing Difficulties in Overseeing the Continental Army, December 1777 43.1. Resolutions on Supplying the Needs of the Continental Army and an Accompanying Circular Letter to the States, December 20, 1777 43.2. John Harvie to Thomas Jefferson, December 29, 1777 43.3. Committee on Emergency Provisions to Thomas Wharton, December 30, 1777 Appendix: Four Additional Documents, Informative but Off-Stage 44.1. Benjamin Franklin, Articles of Confederation, July 21, 1775 45.1. The Declaration of Independence in Thomas Jefferson's Notes, July 1–4, 1776 46.1. Ratified Text of the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, March 1, 1781 47.1. Royal Instructions to the Carlisle Peace Commission, April 12, 1778 Notes Selected Bibliography Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y