Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress

Questions for Further Study

1. The Declaration and Resolves draws upon three sources of rights. Identify these sources. Which do you think was the strongest? Which appeal do you think would have the greatest impact in America? In England? In the rest of the world? Explain.

2. The Declaration and Resolves indicates a fundamental difference in understanding between American and British views of representation. Consider the strengths and weaknesses of the doctrines of actual representation and virtual representation. How, if at all, do you think that contemporaries might have applied these rival doctrines of representation to women or to slaves?

3. Much of the Declaration of Independence consists of a list of colonial grievances against the English king. Examine this list of grievances and comment on the overlap, if any, that you find with those listed in the earlier Declaration and Resolves.

4. Ultimately, the English king refused to accept colonial grievances. Imagine that you are an adviser to King George III and you have just received a copy of the Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress. What would you advise him to do? What problems do you anticipate with Parliament if the king accepts the legitimacy of colonial grievances? What do you anticipate will happen if the king rejects these grievances? Do you see any middle path between these two options?

5. Imagine that the king and Parliament have considered colonial grievances and have agreed on principle to accept colonial representation in Parliament. How do you think this agreement in principle might have been implemented? Do you think this would have resolved the controversy between the colonies and the British? What problems do you anticipate might derive from such an agreement? What do you think would be the best way to solve them? Would you anticipate that Parliament might one day move from England to the United States? Explain.

6. Read the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution (the Bill of Rights). Which of these rights appear to be foreshadowed by the Declaration and Resolves? Are there provisions in the Bill of Rights that appear to contradict arguments in the Resolves? Does the Declaration and Resolves articulate any important rights that did not find their way into the Bill of Rights?