Date:1765 Annotation: The Continental Congress’ Declaration of Rights and Grievances. Document: We have several times promised to treat our readers with a correct copy of this venerable manuscript, detailing the first movements of the friends of freedom in the new world. It is an official copy, under the signature of John Cotton, Esq. clerk to that illustrious…

Date:1765 Annotation: To increase revenues to pay the cost of militarily defending the colonies, Parliament passed the Stamp Act, which required a tax stamp on legal documents, almanacs, newspapers, pamphlets, and playing cards. This was the first direct tax Parliament had ever levied on the colonies and a violation of the principle that only the colonies’…

Author: John Adams Date:1765 Annotation: This dissertation, written by John Adams, included one of the first arguments to make informed citizens become a check for government. Document: “Ignorance and inconsideration are the two great causes of the ruin of mankind.” This is an observation of Dr. Tillotson, with relation to the interest of his fellow men in…

British Parliament – 1765 An act to amend and render more effectual, in his Majesty’s dominions in America, an act passed in this present session of parliament, intituled, An act for punishing mutiny and desertion, and for the better payment of the army and their quarters. WHEREAS in and by an act made in the…

Date:1764 Annotation: The Currency Act prohibited colonial governments from issuing paper money and required all taxes and debts to British merchants to be paid in British currency. Document: WHEREAS great quantities of paper bills of credit have been created and issued in his Majesty’s colonies or plantations in America, by virtue of acts, orders, resolutions, or votes…

Date:1687 Annotation: French fears of English threats to Canada. Document: Canada is encompassed by many powerful Colonies of English who labor incessantly to ruin it by exciting all our Indians, and drawing them away with their peltries for which said English give them a great deal more merchandise than the French, because the former pay no duty…

Author:   Don Antonio de Qtermin Date:1680 Annotation: Letter of the governor and captain-general, Don Antonio de Otermin, from New Mexico, in which he gives him a full account of what has happened to him since the day the Indians surrounded him. Document: MY VERY REVEREND FATHER, Sir, and friend, most beloved Fray Francisco de Ayeta: The…

Date:1660 Annotation: The Navigation Acts were laws designed to support English shipbuilding and restrict trade competition from England’s commercial adversaries, especially the Dutch. The acts eventually contributed to growing colonial resentment with the imposition of additional duties on sugar, tobacco, and molasses.   Document: Excerpts from the Navigation Act British Parliament Navigation Act of September 13, 1660…

Date:1649 Annotation: Maryland statute concerning religion. Document: Forasmuch as in a well governed and Christian Common Weath matters concerning Religion and the honor of God ought in the first place to bee taken, into serious consideracion and endeavoured to bee settled, Be it therefore ordered and enacted by the Right Honourable Cecilius Lord Baron of Baltemore absolute…

Author:  John Winthrop Date:1630 Annotation: City upon a hill is the phrase often used to refer to John Winthrop’s famous speech, “A Model of Christian Charity.” It was given aboard the Arbella not long before reaching New England. Winthrop referred to their new place in the New World as a “city on a hill” that would…