Extracts from a ‘Declaration agreed to by the General Congress in Philadelphia’, on the 6 July 1775. This established “the Causes and Necessity of their taking up Arms”. It was printed in a New Jersey newspaper on the 2 August 1775. Catalogue ref: CO 5/992 f161-162.
Transcript
We for ten years incessantly and ineffectually besieged the Throne as supplicants [one who petitions]; we reasoned, we remonstrated [pleaded in protest] with parliament in the most mild and decent language. But Administration sensible that we should regard these oppressive measures as freemen ought to do, sent over fleets and armies to enforce them.
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We have pursued every temperate [reasonable], every respectful measure, we have even proceeded to break off our commercial intercourse with our fellow subjects, as the least peaceable admonition [warning], that our attachment to no nation upon earth should supplant our attachment to liberty. This, we flattered ourselves, was the ultimate step of the controversy: But subsequent events have shewn, how vain was this hope of finding moderation in our enemies.
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Lest this declaration should disquiet [upset] the minds of our friends and fellow subjects in any part of the empire, we assure them, that we mean not to dissolve that Union which has so long and so happily subsisted between us, and which we sincerely wish to see restored.
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- What British actions did the Americans see as increasing the conflict?
- Why did the rebels stop petitioning to try and change their situation?
- Look at the third extract of the declaration. What kind of resolution did the colonists hope for at this stage?
- Why is it significant that this declaration is published in a newspaper?
- What can we learn about resistance to Britain from different colonies inferred by this source?