It is the judgment of posterity that Mr. Jefferson did very well—which was doubtless due partly to the fact that he could write, if not ten times better, at least better than John Adams. Yet the happy phrasing of a brief paragraph or two could scarcely by itself have won so much fame for the author; and perhaps much of the success of this famous paper came from the circumstance that ten years of controversy over the question of political rights had forced Americans to abandon, step by step,the restricted ground of the positive and prescriptive rights of Englishmen and to take their stand on the broader ground of the natural and inherent rights of man. To have said, “We hold this truth to be self-evident: that all Englishmen are endowed by the British Constitution with the customary right of taxing themselves internally” would probably have made no great impression on the sophisticated European mind. It was Thomas Jefferson’s good fortune, in voicing the prevailing sentiment in America, to give classic expression to those fundamental principles of a political faith which was destined, in the course of a hundred years, to win the allegiance of the greater part of the western world.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these, are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed. That, whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on suchPrinciples and organizing its Powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
It is to these principles—for a generation somewhat obscured, it must be confessed, by the Shining Sword and the Almighty Dollar, by the lengthening shadow of Imperialism and the soporific haze of Historic Rights and the Survival of the Fittest—it is to these principles, these “glittering generalities,” that the minds of men are turning again in this day of desolation as a refuge from the cult of efficiency and from faith in “that which is just by the judgment of experience.”
Contemporary Writings; Many of the most important documents for this period are in the following brief collections: W. Macdonald,Select Charters and Other Documents,1906; H. W. Preston,Documents Illustrative of American History,5th ed., 1900; H. Niles,Principles and Acts of the Revolution in America,1822; J. Almon,Collection of Papers Relative to the Dispute between Great Britain and America,1777 (commonly cited asPrior Documents). The spirit of the times is best seen in the contemporary newspapers, many extracts from which are printed in F. Moore,Diary of the American Revolution from the Newspapers and Original Documents,1863. Of the numberless controversial pamphlets, the following are noteworthy: J. Otis,Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved,1764; D. Dulaney,Considerations on the Propriety of Imposing Taxes on the British Colonies,1765; J. Dickinson,Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania to the Inhabitants of the British Colonies,1768 (also inWritings of John Dickinson,3 vols. 1895); W. Knox,The Controversy between Great Britain and her Colonies Reviewed,1769 (excellent pro-British reply to Dickinson); S. Jenyns,The Objections to the Taxation of Our American Colonies … Briefly Considered,1765; J. Wilson,Considerations on the Nature and Extent of the Legislative Authority of theBritish Parliament,1774 (also inThe Works of James Wilson,2 vols. 1896); S. Seabury,Free Thoughts on the Proceedings of the Continental Congress,1774; T. Paine,Common Sense,1776 (also inWritings of Thomas Paine,4 vols. 1894-96). These pamphlets are not available to most readers, but all of them, together with many others, have been admirably described and summarized in M. C. Tyler,The Literary History of the American Revolution,2 vols. 1897. The letters and public papers of the leaders of the Revolution have been mostly printed, among which some of the most valuable and interesting collections are: C. F. Adams,The Works of John Adams,10 vols. 1856 (vol. II); J. Adams,Familiar Letters of John Adams and his Wife Abigail Adams,1875; W. C. Ford,The Warren-Adams Letters,1917 (vol. I); A. H. Smyth,The Writing’s of Benjamin Franklin,10 vols. 1905-1907 (vols. IV-VI); P. L. Ford,The Writings of John Dickinson,3 vols. 1895; H. A. Cushing,The Writings of Samuel Adams,4 vols. 1904-1908; P. O. Hutchinson,Diary and Letters of Thomas Hutchinson,2 vols. 1884. The following works give the history of the time as it appeared to various contemporaries: W. Gordon,History of the Rise, Progress, and Establishment of American Independence,4 vols. 1788 (parts of the work taken bodily from theAnnual Register); D. Ramsey,History of the Revolution of South Carolina,2 vols. 1785; A. Graydon,Memoirs of His Own Times,1846; T. Hutchinson,History of Massachusetts Bay,3 vols. 1795-1828 (based on documents collected by the author, some of which were destroyed in the Stamp Act riots); Mercy Warren,History of the American Revolution,3 vols. 1805 (author was a sister of James Otis); W. Moultrie,Memoirs of theAmerican Revolution so far as it Related to North and South Carolina,2 vols. 1802; J. Drayton,Memoirs of the American Revolution,2 vols. 1821; T. Jones,History of New York in the Revolutionary War,2 vols. 1879 (by a prominent New York Loyalist);The Annual Register,1765-1776 (an English annual giving summaries of political events supposed to have been prepared by Edmund Burke); H. Walpole,Memoirs of the Reign of George the Third,4 vols. 1894.
Secondary Works: The best single volume on the Revolution is W. E. H. Lecky,The American Revolution,1912. Other good accounts: E. Charming,History of the United States,vol. III, 1912; G. Howard,Preliminaries of the American Revolution,1905; S. G. Fisher,Struggle for American Independence,2 vols. 1908 (controverts many traditional ideas. Interesting book by a man who has been bored by the laudation of the heroic and patriotic side of the Revolution). Of the more detailed histories, the best are: G. Bancroft,History of the United States,10 vols. 1834-1874 (vols. V-VIII deal with the period 1765-1776. Strongly prejudiced but accurate as to facts; based on documents collected in European archives, some of which are not easily obtainable elsewhere. Revised ed., 6 vols. 1885, omits notes and references, and therefore not so valuable as the original edition); G. O. Trevelyan,The American Revolution,6 vols. 1899-1914 (brilliantly written by an Englishman of Liberal sympathies. On the whole the work on the Revolution best worth reading). Studies of the beginnings of the Revolution in particular colonies: C. H. Lincoln,Revolutionary Movement in Pennsylvania,1901; H. J. Eckenrode,The Revolution in Virginia,1916; C. L. Becker,Historyof Political Parties in New York, 1760-1776,1909. The best account of the British policy leading up to the Grenville measures is G. L. Beer,British Colonial Policy, 1754-1765, 1907. The interesting and important subject of the Loyalists is sketched in C. H. Van Tyne,The Loyalists of the American Revolution,1902. Interesting biographies well worth reading: W. W. Henry,Patrick Henry: Life, Correspondence, and Speeches,3 vols. 1891; J. K. Hosmer,Life of Thomas Hutchinson,1896; J. K. Hosmer,Samuel Adams,1893; M. Chamberlin,John Adams,1884; C. J. Stillé,The Life and Times of John Dickinson,1891; D. D. Wallace,Life of Henry Laurens,1915; P. L. Ford,The Many-Sided Franklin,1899; J. Parton,Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin,2 vols. 1867.
Adams, John, on Virginia Resolutions,77; attitude on Stamp Act question,90,91; defends soldiers,129; incurs popular displeasure,129,152; retires from public affairs,152; part in Mass. controversy,185; journeys to first Continental Congress,200,208-212; at first Continental Congress,203,212-213,233-234,235,236-237; on Prohibitory Act,242-243; idea of Independence,245; to draft Declaration of Independence with Jefferson,253; urges Jefferson to write Declaration,254.Adams, Samuel, Sugar Act protest,63; abhorrence of Boston riots,85; attitude on Stamp Act question,91; assembles town meeting,128; drafts circular letter,134-136; on Hutchinson,150; Otis suspicious of,152; life and character,153-158,160-163; portrait by Copley,159; leader in crisis,163-165;175; controversy with Hutchinson,176et seq.; goes to first Continental Congress,200.Adams, Samuel, the elder,154.Alsop, John,211,232.Amherst, Jeffrey, General,36.Annual Register,150.Army, Continental, Congress decides to raise,235.Association of 1774,219-220,225-226,241.
Barré, Isaac, Colonel, quoted,47,82.Beckford, Alderman, quoted,41.Bedford, Duke of,121.Bedford, Grosvenor, Collector of Customs at port of Philadelphia,13-17.Bernard, Francis, Governor of Mass., corruption,20; changes in colonial government,21,22; and finance,76; unable to protect Customs Commissioners,126; succeeded by Hutchinson,152; letters to England,191,192.Bernard, Nat, Captain of theLiberty,124.Billeting Act,seeMutiny Act.Blainville,seeCéloron de Blainville.Bland, Richard,66,71,74.Boston, Stamp Act riots,83-86; Customs Commissioners at,124;Libertysloop riot,124-126; regiments active in (1768),126-127; Massacre (1770),127-128; town meeting demands removal of troops,128; merchants enter non-importation agreement,39; Hutchinson’s account of government,173-174; town meeting,174-175; tea party,199,206; Port Bill,207,222.Boston Gazette,81,182.Brattle, James,233.“British-American Parliament,” plan for,216.Burke, Edmund, on passing Stamp Act,48-49; opinion of Townshend,118.Bute, Lord, resignation as premier,16(note).
Camden, Lord,103.Canada, Franklin urges England to retain,5; question of retaining,53,54.“Caucus Club,”159.“Caulkers’ Club,”158.Céloron de Blainville,32-33.Chase, Samuel,237.Chase, Thomas,83.Chatham, Earl of,seePitt.Cockle, James, Collector of Customs for the port of Salem,20.Coercive Acts,207,222.Colden, Cadwallader, Lieutenant-Governor of N. Y.,87-88.Colonies, governors urge reforms,21-22; defense of,29et seq.; lack of coöperation among,37; relation of assemblies and governors,38; population,50-51; wealth,51-52; trade,53-55; governors,58-61; legislative independence,131;see alsoArmy, Commerce, Conciliation, Taxation, and colonies by name.Commerce, trade with West Indies,26,28; increase (1748-1760),54; colonial merchants agree to non-importation,139-140; London merchants petition Parliament,141; effects of non-importation agreement,143-147.Conciliation, Galloway’s plan,216; Pitt’s plan,221-222; North’s plan,223-224;231; Dickinson advises petition,233-235; Great Britain to make concessions,239.Concord (Mass.), battle,229-230.Continental Congress, first, Mass. delegates,201; reasons for calling,201-208; non-importation question,213-215; question of authority,214; “SuffolkResolves,”215-216,217; conciliation plan rejected,216; dissensions in,217; Declaration of Rights,218; Association,219-220; accomplishments,220; adjourns,220.Continental Congress, second, meets,225; moderate men in,231; Dickinson’s petition,233-235; raises army,235;Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms,235-236; question of war or reconciliation,237et seq.; opens ports,243-244; idea of independence,245-246.Conway, H. S., presents bill for repeal of Stamp Act,108.Curling, Captain,205.Cushing, Thomas,200.Customs, colonial duties,24et seq.; Townshend duties,123; Board of Commissioners,124;Libertysloop riot,124-126; protest against Townshend duties,131et seq.; duties repealed except on tea,142-143,148-149.
Dartmouth, Earl of, opinion of first Continental Congress,220; petition presented to,242.Dawes, William,229.De Berdt, Dennys,134.Declaration of Independence,245,253-256.Declaration of Rights,218.Declaratory Act,114.Delaware, on question of independence,252,253.Dickinson, John, quoted,98;Farmer’s Letters,131-134; on conduct of East India Company,204-205; advises conciliation petition to King,233-235;for conciliation,243; attitude toward independence,252,253.Dowdeswell, William,120.Duane, James,211,214,232.Dulaney, Daniel,Considerations on the Propriety of Imposing Taxes on the British Colonies,108(note),113-114.
East Indian Company, Government suggests taking over possessions,117; sends tea to colonies,199,202-206.England, of Franklin’s day,4-5,7; sinecures in,12et seq.
Finance, revenues from America,16; debt of England,18,23; taxes,23-24; colonial customs,24et seq.; Stamp Tax,39et seq.; plan to take over possessions of East India Company,117; land tax,120; Townshend duties,123-124; Dickinson distinguishes between kinds of duties,131-134; reasons for decay of business in New York,144-146;see alsoCustoms, Taxation.Fleming, John,70.Fox, C. J., quoted,208.France cedes possessions to England,30.Franklin, Benjamin, commissioned to London by Assembly of Pa. (1757),1-2; delays going to accommodate Loudoun,2-3; journeys to London,4; pamphlet urging retention of Canada,5; opinion of colonial loyalty,5; life in England,6-7; returns to Philadelphia,8; desired to return to England,8-10; opinion as to relations between Britain and colonies,10-11; Plan of Union rejected,37; description of American attitude toward defense,38; as colonial agent,44-45; on rights of colonies,50;The Increase of Mankind…,51;The Interest of Great Britain Considered,54; opinion of Stamp Act,65; opinion as to union of colonies,78; examined in Parliament on tax question,104-107; opinion of rights of Parliament in the colonies,137-138; letters to first Continental Congress,215,217; Pitt discusses conciliation plan with,221; consulted as to North's conciliation plan,222-223; votes for independence,253.Friends of Liberty and Trade,147.Fur-trade,27.
Gadsden, Christopher, quoted,80.Gage, Thomas, General,199,207,208,229,230.Galloway, Joseph, at first Continental Congress,214,215; conciliation plan,216; in second Continental Congress,232.George III, attitude toward Stamp Act,99et seq.; quoted,200.Georgia, unrepresented in Stamp Act congress,79.Gordon, William, quoted,74.Grenville, George, Premier,13; character,15; letter to Walpole,16; government efficiency,17; interest in revenue,19-20; content with colonial government,22; budget,23-29; plan of colonial defense,39; plans stamp tax,40-41; answers colonial agents concerning stamp tax,42; postpones stamp tax,43; consults Franklin,44-45;perfects stamp tax plan,45-46; quoted,98; dismissed from ministry,100,101; leader of Opposition,102-103,119.Gridley, Jeremiah,91,167.Guadeloupe,5,53,54.