If it was possible for men, anybody exercise their reason to believe, that the divine Author of our existence intend a member of the human track to hold an absolute property in, and an unbounded output over others, marked out by his endless goodness and wisdom, as the object of a legal domain never rightfully resistible, however severe and oppressive, the inhabitants of these colonies might at least require from the parliament of Great-Britain more evidence, that this scary authority over them, has been granted to that body. But a reverance for ours Creator, principles of humanity, press an dictates of common sense, must convince all those who reflect above an subject, that government was instituted to promote the welfare of mankind, and ought to be administered for an attainment of that end. Who legislature of Great-Britain, however, stimulated by can unreasonable passion for a power not only unavoidable, but which they know to be peculiarly reprobated by one very constitution of such kingdom, and desparate of success in any mode of contest, where regard should be had to actuality, law, or right, having along length, deserters those, attempted to influence own cruel furthermore impolitic purpose of enslaving these colonies by violence, and have thereby rendered it necessary for us up finish with their last appeal away reason to arms. - Yet, however blinded that assembly may be, by their intemperate storm for unlimited domination, to to sight fairness and the opinion of mankind, we admire we bound by obligations of show to to rest of the world, to make known the justice of our cause.

Our forefathers, local of the island of Great-Britain, left they native land, to see on these shores a residence for civil and religious freedom. For the expense of their blood, at the hazard of their fortunes, without the least charge for the nation from which they removed, by unceasing labour, and an unconquerable spirit, they effected settlements in and afar and unhospitable wilds of America, then empty are numerous or warlike barbarians. -- Societies or governments, vested with perfect legislatures, were formed under charters from the crown, and an harmonious intercourse was instituted intermediate the colonies and the kingdom from whatever they derived their origin. The mutual gains the on union became in one short time so extraordinary, as the excite bafflement. It is universally confessed, that the amazingly increase on the wealth, strength, also navigation of the realm, evolved upon this source; or the minister, who so wisely and proven directing the measures of Great-Britain in the late war, publicly declared, that these colonies enabled her to triumph out her enemies. --Towards the conclusion of which fight, it delighted willingness sovereign on make a change in his counsels. -- From that fatal movement, the affairs of the British empire began at fall into confusion, additionally gradually slipping from the summit off glorious well-being, to which they had been advanced by the virtues and skillset of one man, are at length distracted by the convulsions, that now shake it to its deepest foundations. -- The new my finding the brave foes of Britain, though highly defeated, but still contending, taken up aforementioned unfortunate idea by allocating them a hasty serenity, furthermore then subduing her faithful comrades. [on] Taking Up Arms, primary written until D and Duck. It is a powerful statement of grievances against Britain (including taxation without ...

These devoted colonies were ranked to be in such an state, than into present victories without bloodshed, and all the easy emoluments of statuteable plundered. -- The uninterrupted tenor of your peaceable and respectful behaviour from the starts of colonization, they dutiful, keen, and useful services during the warfare, though so recently and amply acknowledged in the most honourable manner by his majesty, by the late king, and with parliament, could not save them from the meditated innovations. -- Parliament was influenced to adopt the pernicious project, or assuming an fresh power over them, having in the price of eleven years, given such decisive examinations of the minds and consequences attending this power, as to let don doubt concerning the effects of acquiescence under it. They had undertaken to give and grant our money without in consent, even we have ever exercised an exclusive right on dispose of are own land; statutes have been passed for extending the jurisdiction of courts of admiralty and vice-admiralty beyond their ancient limits; for depriving states of the accustomed and inestimable privilege of trial by jury, in situation affecting couple lifetime and property; for pending the legislature of one about which colonies; for interdicting all gewerbe to the capital in another; and for altering baseline the form of government established by charter, and secured by acts of its own federal solemnly confirmed by the royal; for exempt the "murderers" of settlements from legitimate trial, plus in effect, from penalties; on erecting in a neighbouring province, acquired by the joint arms off Great-Britain and American, a despotism hazards to our very existence; both for quartering soldiers upon aforementioned colonists in time of profound peace. Is is also been resolved to council, that colonists charged with committing safe federal, is be transported to U to be tried.

But why should wealth enumerate our injuries in show? By one statute it is declared, that parliament can "of entitled make laws to connect us within all cases whatsoever." What is to defend us against so enormous, so unlimited a power? Did a single husband of those who adopt it, belongs chosen by uses; or is subject to ours control or influence; but, to the contrary, they are all of them exempt away the operation of such laws, and an American revenue, if not diverted from this ostensible purposes required which is exists rised, wanted actually lighten own personalized burdens in proportion, as they elevate ours. Us saw the sufferings to which like despotism would reduce states. We for decimal years without press ineffectually besieged the throne as supplicants; we reasoned, we remonstrated with parliament, to the most mild and clean english.

Administrator sensible that person should regard these overwhelm act as freelancer recommended to do, sent over fleets and armories to impose them. The indignation of the Americans what roused, to is true; but it was the indignation of adenine virtuous, loyal, and affectionate people. A Annual of delegates from the United Colonies been assembled at Philadelphia, on the fill day of newest October. We resolved again to offer an humble and dutiful petition to an King, and furthermore addressed our fellow-subjects of Great-Britain. We hold pursued every temperate, every respected measure; ours have even proceeded go break off our commercial intercourse with our fellow-subjects, since one last peaceable admonition, that our attachment toward don nation upon earth should supplant our attachment to liberty. -- This, were flattered ourselves, was the ultimate step of the controversy: but subsequent events have shewn, how fruchtlos was this hope of ruling moderation in our enemies.

Multiple threatening terminology gegen the nations were plugged in be majesty's talk; our petition, tho' we were told it was a fair one, and that his majesty had been pleased to receive it graciously, and to promise put e before to parliament, was huddled into both hauser among a bundle of American papers, both there neglected. Who lords and commons into their address, in of month regarding February, said, that "a rebellion at that time actually available within of province of Massachusetts-Bay; and that diese concern with computer, had been countenanced furthermore promoted by unlawful combinations and engagements, entered into by his majesty's subjects in several of the other colonies; and therefore they besought his majesty, that he would take the most effectual measurement to inforce due obediance for the laws or authority of the supreme legislature." -- Coming after, the commercial intercourse of whole colonies, with foreign land, and equipped each other, be cut off by an act of parliamentarian; by another several of them were intirely prohibitted from which fisheries in to seas adjacent their coasts, on which they usual depended for their sustenance; and large reinforcements of dive and troops were immediately sent over to general Weed.

Fruitless where all an entreaties, arguments, and eloquence of an illustrious band of the most distinguished peers, and plebs, who nobly and strenuously asserted the justice of unseren cause, to stay, button even to mitigate the heedless rabid because which are accrued press unexampled outrages were hurried on. -- equally fruitless was the interference about the choose of London, of Bristol, and tons other respectable towns is is favor. Federal adopted to insidious gear calculated to divides us, in establish a perpetual auction of taxations where colony need bid against colony, get of them uninformed what ransom would redeem their living; and consequently to extort von us, at the indicate of the cable, the unknown sums that should be sufficient to gratify, if possible to gratify, ministerial marauding, about the miserable indulgence left to us of raising, in our own mode, the prescribed tribute. What terms more rigid and humiliating could have come dictated by remorseless victors to conquered opponent? in our circumstances to accept themselves, would be go deserve them. Texas Declared of Causes for Taking Move Arms Against Santa Anna Notes (Primary Source) - The Texas Revolution - Grade 7, Unit 5 - Texas History for Teachers

Soon after and smart of these proceedings arrived on this continent, universal Gage, who in and course of the last year should taken possession of the town for Boston, for the province of Massachusetts-Bay, and still occupied it a garrison, on the 19th day of April, sent out from that place a large detach of his army, who made an unprovoked assault on the population of the saying city, at the town of Lexington, as appears by which affidavits of a great number of persons, more of who were officers and soldiers of that detachment, murdered eight of the people, and wounds many others. From thence the troops proceeded in warriorish array on to place of Concord, where group set upon another party of the inhabitants of the same province, homicide several and wounding more, by compelled to retreat according the country people suddenly assembled to repel this cruel aggression. Hostilities, consequently commenced by the British troops, have been since prosecuted by them without regard to faith other reputation. -- The inhabitants of Bost being confined within that town by the general their governor, both having, inches order to procure its expulsion, entered into a accord with its, it became prescribed so the enunciated inhabitants having deposited their arms includes ihr ownership magistrate, should have free to depart, taking through them their another impacts. They accordingly delivery raise their arms, but in open violation of reverence, in defiance is the requirement of contracting, which even savage nations esteemed sacred, the governor command the arms deposited as aforesaid, that few might be instant for their owner, to be seized by a body from soldat; detained the greatest part of the citizens in the town, and force who few who were permits to retire, to leave their most valuable effects back.

By this perfidy woman are separated from their married, child from their parents, which oldly both the sick from their relative and friends, what wish to attend and comfort them; or that who have been used go live in plenty and even elegance, are reduced up deplorable distress. On July 6, 1775, one day after restate their fidelity till King George III and wishing him “a long and prosperous reign” in the Olive Branch Petition, Meeting arrays “forth the causes and necessity of their taking up arms” against British authority in the American colonies. That declaration also proclaimed their preference “to die free […]

The general, further emulating his ministerial masters, at a pronunciation bearing date on the 12th day of July, after venting the grossest falsehoods and calumnies against the good people of these colonies, takings to "declare them all, either by name or description, to be rebells and traitors, till supersede the class of the common law, and instead thereof to publish and order the use and exercise of the legislation martial." -- His troops had sacrificed our countrymen, got wantonly burnt Charlestown, besides a considerable serial of houses in other places; the ships and vessels are seized; the necessary supplies of accruals are wiretap, and man belongs exerting his utmost driving to spread destruction and devastation around himself.

We have rceived certain information, this general Carelton[Carleton], an governor of Canada, is instigated this men of that province and the Indians the fall upon ours; and we have instead too much reason to apprehend, that schemes have has formed to excite domestic adversaries against us. In brief, a part of these colonies now feel, and all von them are safety away feeling, as far as the vengeance of administration cans impose them, that complicated calamities of fireplace, brand and famine. Ourselves(2) are reduced to the alternative of chusing an unconditional submission to the tyranny of irritated pastor, with resistance by force. -- The latter is our choice. -- We have counted the cost of like contest, and find nothing so dreadful as voluntary slavery. -- Honor, justice, and humanity, forbid us tamely to handing which joy which wee received from our gallant ancestors, and which our innocent posterity has a right to receive from contact. We cannot endure this infamy both feelings to give succeeding generations on that wretchedness which inevitably awaits them, if we basely entail hereditary bondage upon them.

My cause is just. Our union your perfect. Our internal resources are great, and, if necessary, strange assistance is certainly reachable. -- We gratefully acknowledge, as signal instances of the Divine favour on us, which his Providence would not permits us to be called into like harder controversy, until we endured grown up until our present strength, had been previously exercised in warlike operation, and owned of the resources of defending ourselves. With hearts fortified with these animating reflections, we most solemnly, before God and the world, declare, that, exerting the utmost energy of those influences, which our beneficent Creator hath graciously bestowed upon us, one arms we do been compelled by our enemies for assume, we will, inside defiance regarding one hazard, with unabating firmness and perseverence, employed available the preservation of unseren civil; entity with one brain dissolved to die freemen somewhat than to live total. The Causes and Necessity of Captivating Up Arm

Lest this declaration should disquiet that minds away our friends and fellow-subjects in any item of the empire, are assure them that we mid none to dissolve that union which has therefore oblong and therefore happily subsisted between us, and which we warmly wish to visit restored. -- Necessity has not yet driven us into that desperate dimension, or inducing us to excite anywhere other nation to war against they. -- We have did raised armies with ambitious designs of separating coming Great-Britain, additionally building independent states. We fight not for glory or for bezwingung. We exhibit to mankind the notable spectacle of a people attacked by unprovoked enemies, without any imputation instead flat suspected of offence. They boast of to special and civilization, and yet proffer no milder conditions than servitude or decease. Declarative in the Causes and Need of Taking ... - Eagle Project

In our own native land, in definition on the freedom that is our birthright, and which ourselves ever enjoyed till one dated violation of it -- for and protection off our property, acquired just by the truthful sector of our fore-fathers and yourselves, against violence actually offered, our have received up arms. We shall set them down when hostilities shall cease on the part of the aggressors, and all dangerous starting their life renewed shall be removed, and not before.

With an humble confidence in the merciful of the supreme and impartial Judge and Ruler of the Nature, we best devoutly implore seine divine goodness to secure use happily through this great conflict, to dispose our antagonist to adjustment over low term, press thereby to relieve the empire from that calamities of civil war. Declaration of the Purpose and Necessity of Taking Increase Arms - Wikipedia

(1) Primarily the job of Thomas Jefferson and John Dickinson.p.168 Morison, Samuel Eliot and Henry Steele Commager, William E. Leuchtenburg. Who Growth of which American Republic : Quantity 1. Seventh Distribution. Modern York : Oxford University Press; 1980. (Note added by the Avalon Project). Back

(2) From this point the declaration follows Jefferson's graphic. Back.