A formal contract or agreement between or among two or more parties or states. The Mayflower Compact of 1620 was such a formal agreement.

In natural rights philosophy, moral rules found out by correctly applied reason or right reason, telling persons what they may and may not do in various circumstances. In philosophy, laws of nature have often referred to the rules that would prevail in the absence of man–made law. Natural law is conceived to contain standards of justice that apply to all people.

The ultimate, supreme power in a state. Democratic theory states that the people as a whole are sovereign (See popular sovereignty); the citizens of the United States constitute the sovereign people.

A document giving a governmental authority the power to search and seize property without restrictions. Abolished in American law, the use of such writs by the British government was a major issue during some phases of the American Revolution.

John Locke, a physician and philosopher, worked with famous scientists, including Robert Boyle and Robert Hooke. In contrast to Hobbes, Locke used state of nature and social contract theory to justify limited government and the preservation of individual rights, particularly life, liberty, and property. Locke is sometimes called "America's philosopher" because his Second Treatise of Government (1690) was widely read by the colonists and important ideas found in it (as well as in works of English republican writers) are found in the Declaration of Independence, especially his theories of natural rights and his defense of violent revolution after "a long train of abuses" of power by rulers. Two verbatim phrases of Locke's are found in the Declaration.

Franklin was the oldest delegate to the Philadelphia Convention. With the possible exception of George Washington, Franklin was the best-known man in America. Born into a poor family, Franklin became an inventor, scientist, diplomat, and publisher. His Poor Richard's Almanac was read nationwide. His career in public service was long and varied, and included service as ambassador to England and France and as governor of Pennsylvania. At the Philadelphia Convention, Franklin was a compromiser, using wit to bring delegates together. A staunch advocate of colonial rights, he helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Paris (1783). He played an important role in creating the Great Compromise. He favored a strong national government and argued that the Framers should trust the judgment of the people. Although he was in poor health in 1787, he missed few sessions, being carried to and from the meeting place in a special chair. Although he did not agree with everything in the Constitution, he believed that no other convention could come up with a better document.

James Otis was born in West Barnstable, Massachusetts, in 1725. He was the brother of Mercy Otis Warren. He had once been an advocate general in the vice admiralty courts charged with prosecuting smugglers, but resigned his post to represent Boston merchants in the effort to prevent general writs from being reissued. Otis argued that general writs violated the colonists? natural rights and that any act of Parliament contrary to those rights was void. Otis lost the case and the writs were reissued. John Adams, then a young lawyer, later said that Otis's argument was the first act of colonial resistance to British policies. Otis became an instant celebrity and was elected to the Massachusetts legislature (called the general court). He played a prominent role in revolutionary politics until 1769, when a British customs official beat him on the head with a cane in retaliation for a newspaper article Otis had written. Otis's head injuries left him mentally unstable and ended his political career.

Silversmith and revolutionary patriot. Leader of the Boston Sons of Liberty. Principal express rider for the Boston Committee of Safety, spreading news of revolutionary activities, including his famous ride of April 18, 1775, warning of the forthcoming attack of British troops.

Author and political theorist. Born in England, he came to America in November, 1774. In early 1776, he published the pamphlet Common Sense which stirred many Americans to the revolutionary cause. During the war, his pamphlet, The Crisis, helped support the Revolution and encouraged the soldiers in the Continental Army.

Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States. He was a scientist, philosopher, diplomat, and architect. He supported the revolutionary cause and served as governor of Virginia. Between June 11 and June 28, 1776, Jefferson wrote the initial draft of the Declaration of Independence, which was amended by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin and submitted to Congress. Jefferson supported the Constitution but was critical of its lack of a bill of rights. He was the first secretary of state in Washington's cabinet and the leader of the Republican Party. Jefferson was elected vice president in 1796 and was chosen president four years later. He was reelected to the presidency in 1804.

Dawes was a tradesman and was active in the Revolutionary movement in Boston. He gave the warning, with Paul Revere, before the battles of Lexington and Concord. Dawes served in the Continental Army.

Jefferson's Original Draft of the Declaration of Independence

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A letter from Thomas Jefferson to Virginia Convention president Edmund Pendleton on August 26, 1776. Jefferson discusses his ideas on the limitation of representation given his cynical views on goodwill and civic virtue, as well as the idea of fair punishment and the happenings in battles against the British.

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Common Sense is a pamphlet, written anonymously by Thomas Paine, giving arguments for American independence from Britain. Paine outlines his ideas of government and society, then proceeds into the tyrannies of monarchies and the aristocracy, and posits what an effective American government might look like.

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From Wikipedia: This was written in response to a resolution of the North Carolina Provincial Congress, giving suggestions on the establishment of a new government and the drafting of a constitution. Many of the ideas Adams put forth in this essay were incorporated in North Carolina's first constitution.

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From Wikipedia: Benjamin Franklin's early attempt at forming a union of the colonies "under one government as far as might be necessary for defense and other general important purposes" during the French and Indian War. It was one of several plans submitted to colonial assemblies and was rejected but later plans to form a union took inspiration from the Albany Plan.

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The First Continental Congress drafted the Articles of Association in 1774 to implement a trade boycott against Britain without severing allegiance to the crown. The intent behind the Association was to get Britain to change its colonial policies but resulted instead in the crown attempting to tighten its control even further.

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The Declaration of Rights from the Stamp Act Congress declared that, as loyal British subjects, taxes imposed upon colonies without formal consent were unconstitutional. Additionally, delegates asserted that they had the same rights as all British subjects, including trial by jury, the right to vote and representation. These points would be drafted into petitions to the king, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons, though only six colonies agreed to draft them.

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In the wake of the Seven Years' War, as relations between the colonies and Britain worsened, Otis wrote this pamphlet asserting that divine right existed not in single men, but in all people. Government, he continues, should exist to benefit all people and that the vote of the majority is their ultimate voice. As an example, he notes that if a majority today is "for so vile a measure as a standing army," tomorrow, a majority can vote it out--a prelude to colonial dissent over what would become the Intolerable Acts.

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From Wikipedia: The purpose of the proclamation was to organize Great Britain's new North American empire after the French and Indian War and to stabilize relations with the Native Americans through regulation of trade, settlement, and land purchases on the western frontier. The proclamation aimed to quell the fears of Native Americans who foresaw the colonies' westward expansion, and to keep colonies along the Atlantic coast.

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From Wikipedia: The Stamp Act of 1765 was a tax imposed by the British Parliament on the American colonists requiring that many printed materials in the colonies carry a tax stamp in order to help pay for troops stationed in North America following the Seven Years' War. The act was met with resistance from the colonies, who saw it as a violation of the British constitution, and from merchants and manufacturers who lost their market in a flagging colonial economy. It was repealed in 1766.

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After the Stamp Act had been met with resistance and after the prime minister who enacted it had been replaced by one more sympathetic to the colonies, Parliament repealed the Stamp Act on the condition that the Declaratory Act be enacted, which stated that Parliament had the authority to make laws for the colonies in all matters.

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This act, passed by the British Parliament, required colonies to provide housing and food for British soldiers. Colonies opposed the legality of the act as a violation of taxation without representation, and questioned the need for a standing army during peacetime.

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This act amended the Quartering Act of 1765 and was part of the group of acts of Parliament known as the Intolerable Acts. As in the previous Quartering Act, colonies were required to provide housing for soldiers but this time were not forced to give them provisions. As with the other Intolerable or Punitive Acts, the second Quartering Act was intended to vehemently reaffirm British control over the colonies.

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Edmund Burke's acceptance speech after being elected to represent Bristol, in which he defends the principles of representative democracy. In it, he argues for action benefiting the greater good and not in deference to local interests.

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A document adopted by the Continental Congress attempting to reconcile with King George III, stating that the colonists were merely seeking to regulate taxes and trade with Great Britain. It was rejected by the king in association with a confiscated letter written by John Adams, who wrote to a friend of his dissatisfaction with the petition and of his belief that the colonies should have already mobilized for revolt.

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A letter written by Samuel Adams in response to the Boston Port Act, which closed all trade in and out of Boston Harbor in response to the Boston Tea Party. The letter calls for support from other colonies in boycotting British goods and warns that Britain may see fit to suspend the rights of other colonies as well.

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A publication of an organization of American colonists formed in 1765 to oppose the Stamp Act. The name was taken from a speech by Isaac Barré in the British Parliament that referred to American colonials who opposed unjust British measures as "sons of liberty." In the document, the Sons of Liberty deemed any person who supported or aided in such measures was an "enemy to the liberties of America." The group agitated for colonial resistance and helped prevent enforcement of the Stamp Act. After the act's repeal, the organization continued to oppose British measures against the colonists.

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An act of British Parliament in response to the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Port Act blockaded the Port of Boston, preventing the loading or shipping of any goods until restitutions were made for loss of customs duties to the crown and damages to the East India Company. It was considered by the 13 colonies as one of the Intolerable Acts, punishing all who benefited from the port, regardless of their guilt or involvement, and denying them the opportunity to testify.

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This act of British Parliament abolished the Massachusetts charter and brought the colony's government under British control in the aftermath of the Boston Tea Party and the growing unrest there. It was considered in the 13 colonies as one of the Intolerable Acts.

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This act of Parliament allowed a change of venue to another colony or back to Britain in the trials of royal officials accused of wrongdoing in the administration of government, law enforcement and the suppression of revolts if it was thought that the official could not receive a fair trial in the original jurisdiction. It was seen in the 13 colonies as one of the Intolerable or Coercive Acts.

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This British act of Parliament was considered by the 13 colonies as one of the Intolerable Acts as it was passed in the same session as the acts designed as punishment for the Boston Tea Party, limited westward expansion and denied provisions for colonies to have elected legislative assemblies. It did eliminate references to Protestantism in the oath of allegiance and restored the use of French civil law and seigneuries, which some former French Canadiens considered favorable.

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From Wikipedia: The United States Declaration of Independence is a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American Colonies then at war with Great Britain were now independent states, and thus no longer a part of the British Empire. Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration is a formal explanation of why Congress had voted on July 2 to declare independence from Great Britain, more than a year after the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.

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