In brief, a part of these colonies now feel, and all of them are sure of feeling… the complicated calamities of fire, sword, and famine. Parliament was influenced to assume a new power over … They have undertaken to give and grant our money without our consent… statutes have been passed for extending the jurisdiction of courts of admiralty and vice-admiralty beyond their ancient limits… for suspending the legislature of one of the colonies for interdicting all commerce to the capital of another and for altering fundamentally the form of government established by charter… for exempting the “murderers” of colonists from legal trial, and in effect, from punishment… From that fatal moment, the affairs of the British empire began to fall into confusion, gradually sliding from the summit of glorious prosperity to which they had been advanced… Towards the conclusion of that war, it pleased our sovereign to make a change in his counsels. It is universally confessed that the amazing increase of the wealth, strength and navigation of the realm arose from this source and the minister… publicly declared that these colonies enabled to triumph over her enemies. The mutual benefits of this union became in a short time so extraordinary as to excite astonishment. Societies or governments, vested with perfect legislatures, were formed under charters from the crown and a harmonious intercourse was established between the colonies and the kingdom from which they derived their origin. At the expense of their blood, at the hazard of their fortunes, without the least charge to the country from which they removed, by unceasing labour and an unconquerable spirit, they effected settlements in the distant and inhospitable wilds of America, then filled with numerous and warlike nations of barbarians. “Our forefathers, inhabitants of the island of Great-Britain, left their native land to seek on these shores a residence for civil and religious freedom. In this document, Congress explained its reasons for military preparation and mobilisation, and pledged to maintain the war until the British parliament removed its impositions on the American colonies: In July 1775 the second Continental Congress passed a set of resolves called the Declaration of the Causes and Necessities for taking up Arms.
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