Background On"Resolutions Of Condemnation"
Colonial towns played a vital role in resisting British policies leading up to the American Revolution, often expressing their discontent through resolutions passed in town meetings and through the actions of committees of correspondence (from a Google AI search):
.Here are some examples of towns and their resolutions:
In 1772, the Boston Committee of Correspondence was established and circulated a letter to other Massachusetts towns outlining grievances against British policies, such as the practice of the British government paying the salaries of the governor and judiciary, which was seen as undermining colonial self-governance.
This spurred numerous other towns in Massachusetts to create their own committees and endorse Boston's views.
In the wake of the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Committee of Correspondence played a driving role in mobilizing opposition to the punitive Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts), which further intensified resistance efforts.
Braintree, Massachusetts:
In 1765, John Adams penned the "Braintree Instructions," a letter sent to the town's representatives in the Massachusetts legislature.
This document argued forcefully against the Stamp Act, asserting that it violated the fundamental rights of Englishmen to be taxed only with their consent and to be tried by a jury of their peers.
The Braintree Instructions served as a model for other towns across the colonies to express similar opposition to British taxation.
Fairfax County, Virginia:
In 1774, George Washington co-authored the Fairfax Resolves with George Mason, which strongly protested the Intolerable Acts.
These resolutions called for a non-importation agreement of British goods, expressed support for Boston, and advocated for the meeting of a Continental Congress to coordinate colonial resistance.
Worcester saw significant resistance to British authority, including a revolt that demonstrated to the British that their rule was no longer secure in Massachusetts.
Following this uprising, Worcester's town meeting became one of the earliest known public bodies to openly demand independence from the Crown.
Suffolk County, Massachusetts:
The Suffolk Resolves, passed in September 1774, represent a significant step towards open opposition to the British government.
These resolves went beyond boycotts of British goods, advocating for the refusal to pay taxes, the creation of colonial militias, the establishment of colonial governments free from royal authority, and open disobedience to the Boston Port Act.
It is important to remember that these examples are just a few illustrations of the widespread town-level resistance that unfolded across the American colonies in the years leading up to the Revolution. The Committees of Correspondence played a key role in fostering intercolonial communication and coordinating these acts of defiance.