Selected Primary Sources
James Otis, July 1764
"The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved” (selections)Stephen Hopkins, Nov. 1764
"The Rights of the Colonies Examined"
Soame Jenyns
The Objections to the Taxation of our American Colonies by the Legislature of Great Britain, briefly consider'dVirginia Resolves, May 1765
(subset of Patrick Henry Resolves)Pennsylvania Resolves, Sept 21, 1765Stamp Act Congress, October 1765
Declaration of Rights Of the Stamp Act Congress
The Massachusetts Resolves, Oct 29, 1765
Connecticut Resolutions on the Stamp Act: December 10, 1765
Richard Bland, March 1766
"An Inquiry into the Rights of the British Colonies"
John Dickinson, December 1767
"Letters of a Pennsylvania Farmer"
James Wilson, written in 1770 and published in 1774
"Considerations on the Nature and Extent of the Legislative Authority of the British Parliament"
Thomas Jefferson,
"Summary View"
John Adams, Sept 8, 1774
Notes On Debates (summarizing debate on natural rights in the First Continental Congress)
Joseph Galloway,
Thomas Paine, Jan 1776
"Common Sense"
John Adams,
"Thoughts On Government"
Thomas Jefferson, May-June 1776
Draft for the Virginia Constitution
The Declaration of Independence, June - July 1776
