The Declaration of Rights

From "The Constitutions of the Several And Independent
States of America"

Printed for J. Stockdale, London, 1783

Delegates from the colonies met in Philadelphia in the fall of 1774 to decide how to resolve their greivances against the British government. This meeting of colonial representatives — the first Continental Congress — passed a number of resolutions aimed at satisfying their complaints.

One of the resolutions enacted by the Congress was the declaration of colonial rights. In this document the colonists listed the rights that were being denied them as Englishmen. Major John Sullivan, delegate from New Hampshire, drafted the resolution.

In the Declaration of Rights, colonists cite their opposition to the Stamp Act of 1765, the Townshend Acts of 1767 and the Coercive Acts of 1774.

This declaration was adopted by the Continental Congress On October 14, 1774.

Read the Original Declaration of Rights!

Text version of the
Declaration of rights