This Date in American History - July 6, 1775

Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms - July 6, 1775

July 4th is the day that we celebrate this country's Independence from a tyrannical government, which was proclaimed through the signing of the Declaration of Independence. But, nearly a year to the day earlier, another Declaration was issued; this to justify the colonists' creation of an army.

"We are reduced to the alternative of chusing an unconditional submission to the tyranny of irritated ministers, or resistance by force. -- The latter is our choice. -- We have counted the cost of this contest, and find nothing so dreadful as voluntary slavery. -- "

The final draft is the work of John Dickinson and Thomas Jefferson. In an ironic twist of history, Dickinson was actually opposed to a separation from Britain. His task was to temper Jefferson's first draft, which was considered to harsh. Dickinson's opposition to Independence led him to abstain from voting on and signing the Declaration of Independence.

The Declaration of Causes text is located at http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/arms.htm