{"id":101,"date":"2015-02-23T00:38:29","date_gmt":"2015-02-23T00:38:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thecafeprojects.com\/declarationproject\/?page_id=101"},"modified":"2021-01-08T18:05:41","modified_gmt":"2021-01-08T18:05:41","slug":"precursors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?page_id=101","title":{"rendered":"Precursors to the 1776 Declaration of Independence"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"101\" class=\"elementor elementor-101\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-141c5b5f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"141c5b5f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-76322adc\" data-id=\"76322adc\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-578f9290 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"578f9290\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Precursors to the 1776 Declaration of Independence<\/h3><p>Scores of state and local declarations of independence were written between April and July 1776\u00a0<i>before<\/i>\u00a0Declaration of Independence. By and large,\u00a0it still goes unappreciated how much they informed the July 4, 1776 document, which derived may of its claims from these various and sundry declarations. It also goes to show that our Declaration of Independence was not written in a vacuum, but was in many ways almost a logical next step that emerged from all of the cries for greater freedom from states and localities.<\/p><p>The more one reads the many local declarations that preceded the July 4, 1776 declaration, the more apparent it becomes, as Jefferson said late in life in a letter to Henry Lee, that the Declaration of Independence truly\u00a0was not in any way a statement of &#8220;new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of;&#8221; rather, it was, &#8220;an expression of the American mind,&#8221; in many ways a distillation of the declarations that preceded it.<\/p><h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We currently have the following declarations archived which are precursors to the 1776 Declaration of Independence:<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c761e6 elementor-grid-4 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"1c761e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;classic_columns&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;pagination_type&quot;:&quot;prev_next&quot;,&quot;classic_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;classic_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;classic_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:35,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;classic_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;classic_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.classic\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-classic elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-1605 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-41 category-18century category-declaration-collection category-state-and-local-declarations-of-independence-that-precede-july-4\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1605\" >\n\t\t\t\tInstructions for Independence, Acton, Massachusetts (June 14, 1776)\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tJuly 29, 2015\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Editor&#8217;s note: \u00a0On June 14, 1776, inhabitants of the town of Acton, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, apparently left out of an earlier opportunity &#8220;to express<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1605\" aria-label=\"Read more about Instructions for Independence, Acton, Massachusetts (June 14, 1776)\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-1571 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-41 category-declaration-of-independence category-state-and-local-declarations-of-independence-that-precede-july-4\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1571\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" src=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/800px-BattleofLongisland-1-300x198.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-979\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/800px-BattleofLongisland-1-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/800px-BattleofLongisland-1.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1571\" >\n\t\t\t\tDeclaration to Become an Independent State, Murrayfield, Mass. (June 17, 1776)\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tJuly 27, 2015\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Editor&#8217;s Note: The picture of brevity, this declaration by the inhabitants of the town of Murrayfield, in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, makes clear that they cast<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1571\" aria-label=\"Read more about Declaration to Become an Independent State, Murrayfield, Mass. (June 17, 1776)\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-1361 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-41 category-declaration-collection category-declaration-of-independence category-state-and-local-declarations-of-independence-that-precede-july-4 tag-america tag-american-revolution tag-great-britain tag-independence tag-massachusetts\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1361\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" src=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/800px-BattleofLongisland-1-300x198.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-979\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/800px-BattleofLongisland-1-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/800px-BattleofLongisland-1.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1361\" >\n\t\t\t\tTown of Malden, Massachusetts, Instructions for a Declaration of Independence (May 27, 1776)\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tJune 25, 2015\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Editor&#8217;s note: A little over a month before the heady day of July 4, 1776, no longer interested in trying to patch things up with<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1361\" aria-label=\"Read more about Town of Malden, Massachusetts, Instructions for a Declaration of Independence (May 27, 1776)\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-1328 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-41 category-18century category-declaration-collection category-declaration-of-independence category-state-and-local-declarations-of-independence-that-precede-july-4 tag-american-revolution tag-great-britain tag-independence tag-massachusetts\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1328\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" src=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/800px-BattleofLongisland-1-300x198.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-979\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/800px-BattleofLongisland-1-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/800px-BattleofLongisland-1.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1328\" >\n\t\t\t\tDeclaration for Independence by the Inhabitants of Alford, Mass. &#8212; June 7, 1776\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tJune 24, 2015\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Editor&#8217;s note: This is what one might call a conditional declaration of independence &#8212; if the Second Continental Congress decides to sever ties with Britain,<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1328\" aria-label=\"Read more about Declaration for Independence by the Inhabitants of Alford, Mass. &#8212; June 7, 1776\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-1243 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-41 category-18century category-declaration-collection category-declaration-of-independence category-state-and-local-declarations-of-independence-that-precede-july-4 category-uncategorized tag-america tag-great-britain tag-independence tag-liberty\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1243\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"252\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/imgres.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-1330\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1243\" >\n\t\t\t\tRecommendation for Independence by Scituate, MA, residents\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tJune 19, 2015\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Editor&#8217;s note: A month before the July 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence was penned, the residents of this seacoast town in Massachusetts called upon the<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1243\" aria-label=\"Read more about Recommendation for Independence by Scituate, MA, residents\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-1197 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-41 category-18century category-declaration-collection category-declaration-of-independence category-state-and-local-declarations-of-independence-that-precede-july-4 tag-america tag-colonies tag-great-britain tag-independence tag-massachusetts\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1197\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/fireworks-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-1344\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/fireworks-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/fireworks.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/fireworks-1000x665.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1197\" >\n\t\t\t\tInstructions for Independence by the Inhabitants of Palmer, Hampshire County, MA (June 17, 1776)\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tJune 16, 2015\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Editor&#8217;s note: What with Britain &#8220;being bent on her favourite scheme of enslaving the Colonies,&#8221; the inhabitants of this Massachusetts town, on June 17, 1776,<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1197\" aria-label=\"Read more about Instructions for Independence by the Inhabitants of Palmer, Hampshire County, MA (June 17, 1776)\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-1192 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-41 category-18century category-declaration-collection category-essays-on-declaration-of-independence category-state-and-local-declarations-of-independence-that-precede-july-4 category-uncategorized tag-great-britain tag-independence tag-liberty tag-pennsylvania\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1192\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" src=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/800px-BattleofLongisland-1-300x198.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-979\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/800px-BattleofLongisland-1-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/800px-BattleofLongisland-1.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1192\" >\n\t\t\t\tAddress of a Watchman to the People of Pennsylvania, on a Declaration of Independence (June 24, 1776)\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tJune 16, 2015\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Editor&#8217;s note: In this eloquent and\u00a0insightful missive\u00a0of June 24, 1776, a Pennsylvania watchman &#8212; typically someone who keeps lookout in a town at night &#8212;<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=1192\" aria-label=\"Read more about Address of a Watchman to the People of Pennsylvania, on a Declaration of Independence (June 24, 1776)\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-559 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-41 category-18century category-declaration-collection category-declaration-of-independence category-state-and-local-declarations-of-independence-that-precede-july-4 tag-america tag-freedom tag-great-britain tag-independence tag-liberty\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=559\" >\n\t\t\t\tNew Hampshire Declaration of Independence (June 15, 1776)\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tMarch 11, 2015\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Editor&#8217;s Note: With the inauspicious title of &#8220;Committee,&#8221; New Hampshire&#8217;s chambers declared independence &#8220;with\u00a0the example of several of the most respectable of our sister Colonies<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=559\" aria-label=\"Read more about New Hampshire Declaration of Independence (June 15, 1776)\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-548 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-41 category-18century category-declaration-collection category-declaration-of-independence category-state-and-local-declarations-of-independence-that-precede-july-4 tag-america tag-colonies tag-great-britain tag-independence tag-liberty\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=548\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/fireworks-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-1344\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/fireworks-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/fireworks.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/fireworks-1000x665.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=548\" >\n\t\t\t\tTalbot County, Maryland, Instructions for Independence (June 7, 1776)\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tMarch 10, 2015\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Editor&#8217;s Note: If ever there was a declaration that shows how sentiments for independence at the most local level can drive its state delegates to<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=548\" aria-label=\"Read more about Talbot County, Maryland, Instructions for Independence (June 7, 1776)\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-545 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-41 category-18century category-declaration-collection category-declaration-of-independence category-state-and-local-declarations-of-independence-that-precede-july-4 tag-america tag-colonies tag-england tag-great-britain tag-independence tag-liberty\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=545\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"252\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/imgres.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-1330\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=545\" >\n\t\t\t\tAnne Arundel County, MD, Resolves of Independence (June 22, 1776)\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tMarch 10, 2015\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Editor&#8217;s Note: Describing themselves as &#8216;Associators&#8217; (which brings to mind the sundry clusters of voluntary associations that banded together in the\u00a0years preceding\u00a0the march toward revolution<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=545\" aria-label=\"Read more about Anne Arundel County, MD, Resolves of Independence (June 22, 1776)\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-543 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-41 category-18century category-declaration-collection category-declaration-of-independence category-state-and-local-declarations-of-independence-that-precede-july-4 tag-america tag-american-revolution tag-charles-county tag-great-britain tag-independence tag-maryland\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=543\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" src=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/800px-BattleofLongisland-1-300x198.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-979\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/800px-BattleofLongisland-1-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/800px-BattleofLongisland-1.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=543\" >\n\t\t\t\tCharles County, MD, declaration to declare independence (June 1776)\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tMarch 10, 2015\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Editor&#8217;s Note: A first glance at the grievances enumerated here, and the language and tone in which they are presented, and you might think that<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=543\" aria-label=\"Read more about Charles County, MD, declaration to declare independence (June 1776)\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-526 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-41 category-18century category-declaration-collection category-declaration-of-independence category-state-and-local-declarations-of-independence-that-precede-july-4 tag-america tag-american-revolution tag-great-britain tag-independence tag-massachusetts\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=526\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/fireworks-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-1344\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/fireworks-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/fireworks.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/fireworks-1000x665.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=526\" >\n\t\t\t\tDeclaration of Independence &#8211; Town of Wrentham, Mass. (June 5, 1776)\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__meta-data\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-post-date\">\n\t\t\tMarch 8, 2015\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__excerpt\">\n\t\t\t<p>Editor&#8217;s Note: \u00a0This eloquent declaration was issued by the denizens of Wrentham, MA, who possessed a\u00a0&#8220;zeal for the common rights of mankind,&#8221; and were dismayed<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/?p=526\" aria-label=\"Read more about Declaration of Independence &#8211; Town of Wrentham, Mass. (June 5, 1776)\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-load-more-anchor\" data-page=\"1\" data-max-page=\"2\" data-next-page=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fpages%2F101&#038;paged=2\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"elementor-pagination\" aria-label=\"Pagination\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"page-numbers prev\">&laquo; Previous<\/span>\n<a class=\"page-numbers next\" href=\"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fpages%2F101&#038;paged=2\">Next &raquo;<\/a>\t\t<\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Precursors to the 1776 Declaration of Independence Scores of state and local declarations of independence were written between April and July 1776\u00a0before\u00a0Declaration of Independence. By and large,\u00a0it still goes unappreciated how much they informed the July 4, 1776 document, which derived may of its claims from these various and sundry declarations. It also goes to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":5,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-101","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/101","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=101"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/101\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2400,"href":"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/101\/revisions\/2400"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/declarationproject.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}