The Articles of Association
In March, 1774, the British Parliament passed a series of laws they referred
to as the Coercive Acts. The Americans called them the Intolerable Acts. The
Acts were designed specifically to punish the colony of Massachusetts for
defying British policies; specifically, for the Boston Tea Party. Outrage in
the Americas over the Intolerable Acts led to the calling of the First
Continental Congress in September, 1774. During the First Congress, which
included representatives from all of the colonies except Georgia, the delegates
decided to take several actions, including a boycott of British goods. It also
drafted a declaration to the King and Parliament, outlining the position of the
Congress. This work is the Declaration of Rights and Grievances.
The Intolerable Acts, called "impolitic, unjust, and cruel," included the Boston Port Act, the Massachusetts Government Act, the Quartering Act, and the Administration of Justice Act. The Boston Port Act
closed the port of Boston to trade; the Massachusetts Government Act
significantly changed the colony's charter and forbade town meetings; the
Quartering Act required colonists to house British soldiers on demand; and the
Impartial Administration of Justice Act removed British officials from the
jurisdiction of Massachusetts courts. Another act, the Quebec Act, established Roman Catholicism and a new
system of government in the newly acquired colony of Quebec, and played on
widespread distrust and even hatred of the Catholic Church.
On Friday, September 30, 1774, Congress appointed a committee to come up
with a plan by which all of the colonies would agree, in association, to
stop exportation of goods from the colonies to Great Britain, Ireland, and the
West Indies. The members of the committee were Thomas Cushing, Isaac Low,
Thomas Mifflin, Richard Henry Lee, and Thomas Johnson. The committee was sent
various resolutions from the full Congress on October 6, and on October 12,
it presented a draft of its plan. The plan was debated on October 15, the
day after the Declaration of Rights and Grievances
was passed, and for several days thereafter. A final draft was agreed on
Tuesday, October 18, 1774. It was signed by the delegates on October 20.
The source for this text is the Journals of the Continental Congress,
1774-1789, Volume 1. The text is as presented in that volume, but has been
modified slightly to expand abbreviations and modernize spelling.
We, his majesty's most loyal subjects, the delegates of the several colonies
of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three lower counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex,
on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, deputed to
represent them in a continental Congress, held in the city of Philadelphia, on
the 5th day of September, 1774, avowing our allegiance to his majesty, our
affection and regard for our fellow subjects in Great Britain and elsewhere,
affected with the deepest anxiety, and most alarming apprehensions, at those
grievances and distresses, with which his Majesty's American subjects are
oppressed; and having taken under our most serious deliberation, the state of
the whole continent, find, that the present unhappy situation of our affairs is
occasioned by a ruinous system of colony administration, adopted by the British
ministry about the year 1763, evidently calculated for enslaving these
colonies, and, with them, the British empire. In prosecution of which system,
various acts of parliament have been passed, for raising a revenue in America,
for depriving the American subjects, in many instances, of the constitutional
trial by jury, exposing their lives to danger, by directing a new and illegal
trial beyond the seas, for crimes alleged to have been committed in America:
and in prosecution of the same system, several late, cruel, and oppressive acts
have been passed, respecting the town of Boston and the Massachusetts Bay, and
also an act for extending the province of Quebec, so as to border on the
western frontiers of these colonies, establishing an arbitrary government
therein, and discouraging the settlement of British subjects in that wide
extended country; thus, by the influence of civil principles and ancient
prejudices, to dispose the inhabitants to act with hostility against the free
Protestant colonies, whenever a wicked ministry shall choose so to direct
them.
To obtain redress of these grievances, which threaten destruction to the
lives, liberty, and property of his majesty's subjects, in North America, we
are of opinion, that a non-importation, non-consumption, and non-exportation
agreement, faithfully adhered to, will prove the most speedy, effectual, and
peaceable measure: and, therefore, we do, for ourselves, and the inhabitants of
the several colonies, whom we represent, firmly agree and associate, under the
sacred ties of virtue, honor and love of our country, as follows:
1. That from and after the first day of December next, we will not import,
into British America, from Great Britain or Ireland, any goods, wares, or
merchandise whatsoever, or from any other place, any such goods, wares, or
merchandise, as shall have been exported from Great Britain or Ireland; nor
will we, after that day, import any East India tea from any part of the world;
nor any molasses, syrups, paneles, coffee, or pimento, from the British
plantations or from Dominica; nor wines from Madeira, or the Western Islands;
nor foreign indigo.
2. We will neither import nor purchase, any slave imported after the first
day of December next; after which time, we will wholly discontinue the slave
trade, and will neither be concerned in it ourselves, nor will we hire our
vessels, nor sell our commodities or manufactures to those who are concerned in
it.
3. As a non-consumption agreement, strictly adhered to, will be an effectual
security for the observation of the non-importation, we, as above, solemnly
agree and associate, that, from this day, we will not purchase or use any tea,
imported on account of the East India company, or any on which a duty has been
or shall be paid; and from and after the first day of March next, we will not
purchase or use any East India tea whatever; nor will we, nor shall any person
for or under us, purchase or use any of those goods, wares, or merchandise, we
have agreed not to import, which we shall know, or have cause to suspect, were
imported after the first day of December, except such as come under the rules
and directions of the tenth article hereafter mentioned.
4. The earnest desire we have, not to injure our fellow subjects in Great
Britain, Ireland, or the West Indies, induces us to suspend a non-exportation,
until the tenth day of September, 1775; at which time, if the said acts and
parts of acts of the British parliament herein after mentioned are not
repealed, we will not, directly or indirectly, export any merchandise or
commodity whatsoever to Great Britain, Ireland, or the West Indies, except rice
to Europe.
5. Such as are merchants, and use the British and Irish trade, will give
orders, as soon as possible, to their factors, agents and correspondents, in
Great Britain and Ireland, not to ship any goods to them, on any pretense
whatsoever, as they cannot be received in America; and if any merchant,
residing in Great Britain or Ireland, shall directly or indirectly ship any
goods, wares or merchandise, for America, in order to break the said
non-importation agreement, or in any manner contravene the same, on such
unworthy conduct being well attested, it ought to be made public; and, on the
same being so done, we will not, from thenceforth, have any commercial
connection with such merchant.
6. That such as are owners of vessels will give positive orders to their
captains, or masters, not to receive on board their vessels any goods
prohibited by the said non-importation agreement, on pain of immediate
dismissal from their service.
7. We will use our utmost endeavors to improve the breed of sheep, and
increase their number to the greatest extent; and to that end, we will kill
them as seldom as may be, especially those of the most profitable kind; nor
will we export any to the West Indies or elsewhere; and those of us, who are or
may become overstocked with, or can conveniently spare any sheep, will dispose
of them to our neighbors, especially to the poorer sort, on moderate
terms.
8. We will, in our several stations, encourage frugality, economy, and
industry, and promote agriculture, arts and the manufactures of this country,
especially that of wool; and will discountenance and discourage every species
of extravagance and dissipation, especially all horse racing, and all kinds of
gaming, cock fighting, exhibitions of shows, plays, and other expensive
diversions and entertainments; and on the death of any relation or friend, none
of us, or any of our families, will go into any further mourning-dress, than a
black crape or ribbon on the arm or hat, for gentlemen, and a black ribbon and
necklace for ladies, and we will discontinue the giving of gloves and scarves
at funerals.
9. Such as are vendors of goods or merchandise will not take advantage of
the scarcity of goods, that may be occasioned by this association, but will
sell the same at the rates we have been respectively accustomed to do, for
twelve months last past. And if any vendor of goods or merchandise shall sell
any such goods on higher terms, or shall, in any manner, or by any device
whatsoever violate or depart from this agreement, no person ought, nor will any
of us deal with any such person, or his or her factor or agent, at any time
thereafter, for any commodity whatever.
10. In case any merchant, trader, or other person, shall import any goods or
merchandise, after the first day of December, and before the first day of
February next, the same ought forthwith, at the election of the owner, to be
either re-shipped or delivered up to the committee of the county or town,
wherein they shall be imported, to be stored at the risk of the importer,
until the non-importation agreement shall cease, or be sold under the direction
of the committee aforesaid; and in the last-mentioned case, the owner or owners
of such goods shall be reimbursed out of the sales, the first cost and charges,
the profit, if any, to be applied towards relieving and employing such poor
inhabitants of the town of Boston, as are immediate sufferers by the Boston
port-bill; and a particular account of all goods so returned, stored, or sold,
to be inserted in the public papers; and if any goods or merchandises shall be
imported after the said first day of February, the same ought forthwith to be
sent back again, without breaking any of the packages thereof.
11. That a committee be chosen in every county, city, and town, by those who
are qualified to vote for representatives in the legislature, whose business it
shall be attentively to observe the conduct of all persons touching this
association; and when it shall be made to appear, to the satisfaction of a
majority of any such committee, that any person within the limits of their
appointment has violated this association, that such majority do forthwith
cause the truth of the case to be published in the gazette; to the end, that
all such foes to the rights of British America may be publicly known, and
universally condemned as the enemies of American liberty; and thenceforth we
respectively will break off all dealings with him or her.
12. That the committee of correspondence, in the respective colonies, do
frequently inspect the entries of their custom houses, and inform each other,
from time to time, of the true state thereof, and of every other material
circumstance that may occur relative to this association.
13. That all manufactures of this country be sold at reasonable prices, so
that no undue advantage be taken of a future scarcity of goods.
14. And we do further agree and resolve, that we will have no trade,
commerce, dealings or intercourse whatsoever, with any colony or province, in
North America, which shall not accede to, or which shall hereafter violate this
association, but will hold them as unworthy of the rights of freemen, and as
inimical to the liberties of their country.
And we do solemnly bind ourselves and our constituents, under the ties
aforesaid, to adhere to this association, until such parts of the several acts
of parliament passed since the close of the last war, as impose or continue
duties on tea, wine, molasses, syrups, paneles, coffee, sugar, pimento, indigo,
foreign paper, glass, and painters' colors, imported into America, and extend
the powers of the admiralty courts beyond their ancient limits, deprive the
American subject of trial by jury, authorize the judge's certificate to
indemnify the prosecutor from damages, that he might otherwise be liable to
from a trial by his peers, require oppressive security from a claimant of ships
or goods seized, before he shall be allowed to defend his property, are
repealed. And until that part of the act of the 12 Geo. 3. chapter 24, entitled
"An act for the better securing his majesty's dock-yards, magazines, ships,
ammunition, and stores," by which any persons charged with committing any of
the offenses therein described, in America, may be tried in any shire or county
within the realm, is repealed and until the four acts, passed the last session
of parliament, viz. that for stopping the port and blocking up the harbor of
Boston — that for altering the charter and government of the
Massachusetts Bay — and that which is entitled "An act for the better
administration of justice, etc." — and that "for extending the limits of
Quebec, etc." are repealed. And we recommend it to the provincial conventions,
and to the committees in the respective colonies, to establish such farther
regulations as they may think proper, for carrying into execution this
association.
The foregoing association being determined upon by the Congress, was ordered
to be subscribed by the several members thereof; and thereupon, we have
hereunto set our respective names accordingly.
In Congress, Philadelphia, October 20, 1774.
Signed, Peyton Randolph, President.
New Hampshire
Jno. Sullivan
Nathel. Folsom
Massachusetts Bay
Thomas Cushing
Saml. Adams
John Adams
Robt.Treat Paine
Rhode Island
Step. Hopkins
Sam: Ward
Connecticut
Elipht Dyer
Roger Sherman
Silas Deane
New York
Isaac Low
John Alsop
John Jay
Jas. Duane
Phil. Livingston
Wm. Floyd
Henry Wisner
S: Boerum
New Jersey
J. Kinsey
Wil: Livingston
Stepn. Crane
Richd. Smith
John De Hart
Pennsylvania
Jos. Galloway
John Dickinson
Cha Humphreys
Thomas Mifflin
E. Biddle
John Morton
Geo: Ross
The Lower Counties New Castle
Geo: Ross
Caesar RodneyGeo: Ross
Tho. M: KeanGeo: Ross
Geo: Read
Maryland
Mat Tilghman
Ths. Johnson Junr.
Wm. Paca
Samuel Chase
Virginia
Richard Henry Lee
Go. Washington
P. Henry Jr.
Richard Bland
Benja. Harrison
Edmd. Pendleton
North Carolina
Will Hooper
Joseph Hewes
Rd. Caswell
South Carolina
Henry Middleton
Tho Lynch
Christ Gadsden
J Rutledge
Edward Rutledge
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