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Except in slight boundary line changes, or as in the case of Maryland, the District of Columbia (q.v.) incursion, and Pennsylvania (Erie County) (see "Breaks and Recesses in State Lines"), there has been no change in the following of the original thirteen States: Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina.

The following States have not been changed in area as States or Territories since they were so organized: Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Montana, Tennessee, Wyoming.

COLONIAL FORMS OF GOVERNMENT.

All colonies at their organization received forms of constitutional government, their rights being specified in charters which stated the same privileges as if residents of England. Their governments were composed of a governor, a council, and a general assembly, the forms differing according to the circumstances of their settlement.

Provincial or Royal Rule. The King appointed the governor, deputy-governor, and council for the province, the governor possessing broad powers, having charge of the courts and military, also convened the assembly or lower house of the legislature; his council constituting the upper house. The assembly was elected by the people.

The Provincial or Royal Colonies were Virginia, New Hampshire, New York, South Carolina, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Georgia.

Proprietary Rule. Similar to the provincial, except the person or proprietor to whom the colony had been granted, exercised the powers which the King himself exercised in provincial governments; the assembly elected by the people.

The Proprietary Colonies were Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

Charter Rule. To these the King granted charters which gave them substantially the right of local self-government, the governor, council, and assembly being chosen by the people.

The Charter Colonies were Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

POLITICAL UNION.

Compact of the Pilgrims.

In name of god Amen. we whose names are underwriten, the loyall subjects of our dread Soueraigne Lord King lames by grace of god, of great britaine, franc, c Ireland king. defonder of y faith, or

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Haueing undertaken, for & glorie of god, and aduancements of christian, and honour of our king & countrid, a voyage to pland first colonic my Northerns parts of Virginia. Jed by these prefents solemnly & mutualy in y presence of God, and one of another, Covenant, & combine our selves togeather iloa Civill body politick; for y bebor ordering, preferuation & fur therance of y ends aforfaid; and by vertue hear of, to Emacte, constitute, and frame shuch just & equall Lawes, ordinances, Acts, constitutions, & offices, from time to time, as shall to thought most meele & conuenient for generall good of y colonie: unto which we promifo all due submision and obedience. In witnes wherof we have hereunder subscribed our names at cap= Code 3.11. of November, my year of fraigne of our soueraigns ford king James of England, france, & yveland & eighteenth and of Scotland & fisho fourth fini dom. 1620.]

THE MAYFLOWER COMPАСТ.

(From Bradford's History.)

It was signed on board the "Mayflower" in Cape Cod (Provincetown) Harbor, prior to landing, by the following forty-one subscribers, each one noting the number in his family, a total of one hundred and one persons:

John Carver, William Bradford, Edward Winslow, William Brewster, Isaac Allerton, Miles Standish, John Alden, Samuel Fuller, Christopher Martin, William Mullins, William White, Richard Warren, John Howland, Stephen Hopkins, Edward Tilley, John Tilley, Francis Cook, Thomas Rogers, Thomas Tinker, John Ridgedale, Edward Fuller, John Turner, Francis Eaton, James Chilton, John Crackstone, John Billington, Moses Fletcher, John Goodman, Degory Priest, Thomas Williams, Gilbert Winslow, Edward Margeson, Peter Brown, Richard Britteridge, George Soule, Richard Clarke, Richard Gardiner, John Allerton, Thomas English, Edward Doty, Edward Leister.

The above was the first instrument of civil government ever subscribed as the act of the whole people.

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1643-1683. New England Confederation.

To bring the colonies in close relationship, securing by union better protection against the inroad made by the Indians, and other general welfare.

1754. Convention at Albany, New York.

A plan of Union presented by Benjamin Franklin, to provide for a confederation with an executive head. The plan rejected, as each colony desired to preserve its individuality.

1765. Convention at New York City.

An assertion of exclusive right to levy their own taxes.

This was the First Colonial Congress, nine colonies being represented. (See Index.)

1774. Convention at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This was the First Continental Congress (see Index). It decided upon
September 22. A non-importation and non-exportation agreement.
October 14. A Declaration of Rights (see Index).

October 20. A memorial to the inhabitants of British America.
October 21. An address to the people of Great Britain.
October 26. A loyal address to the King.

1776. Congress of the Colonies at Philadelphia.

The Crown, being the Sovereign, claiming the supreme right to legislate on all subjects, asserting it in levying internal taxes, contrary to custom, for reasons as noted in the "Declaration of Rights" (q.v.), there was but one action left the colonies, to be independent of the Crown; and that was the adoption of the "Declaration of Independence" (q.v.).

1777. Congress of the Confederation of States.

The Declaration of Independence having been proclaimed, the plan of confederation and perpetual union between the States promulgated (q.v.). A ConThe union to be a league of friendship between sovereign States. gress in which the States should have equal voice, to whom was delegated most of the rights of sovereignty to manage the Union. It was without power to execute, having only advisory authority, the States being privileged to ignore suggestions.

1786. Convention at Annapolis, Maryland.

The Revolution having financially prostrated the country, some active measures being necessary in the matters of uniformity of duties, com

mercial regulations, and currency, James Madison of Virginia caused to be proposed in the Virginia legislature, January, 1786, a convention of the States, "to digest and report the requisite augmentation of the powers of Congress over trade." Five States responded and sent commissioners to Annapolis in September, 1786. The light attendance postponed action for a general convention in Philadelphia in the spring.

1787. Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia.

The convention organized May 25, 1787, and a Constitution-partly Federal, partly Republican was adopted. Slightly Federal because, in a few instances, members and measures depend upon States; chiefly Republican because, in most instances, it acts directly upon the people.

The convention sent the completed Constitution, with a letter signed by Washington, to Congress under Resolution, September 12, 1787. The object of the Resolution was that its ratification should be the direct work of the people instead of that of State governments.

See article, "Constitution of the United States."

FIRST COLONIAL CONGRESS.

Met at New York, Tuesday, October 7, 1765. Adjourned October 25, 1765. Session, 14 days.

Object. To bring together committees from the several colonial assemblies, "to consult together on the present circumstances of the colonies, and the difficulties to which they are and must be reduced by operation of the late acts of Parliament for levying duties and taxes on the colonies."

Result. The Congress prepared three papers, giving a clear, accurate, and calm statement of the position of the colonies. "A Declaration of Rights and Grievances," written by John Cruger. "An Address to the King," written by R. R. Livingston. "A Memorial to both Houses of Parliament," written by James Otis.

New Hampshire, from the peculiar situation of the colony, judged it imprudent to send Representatives, though they had written they would agree to whatever action Congress took.

Georgia, Virginia, and North Carolina, through their assemblies not being in session, the governors failed to act, refusing to call a special assembly for a principle deemed by them improper and unconstitutional.

(This Congress was known as the "Stamp Act Congress," and "Day Star of the American Union.")

TIMOTHY RUGGLES of Massachusetts, Chairman.
JOHN COTTON, Clerk.

Connecticut.

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DELEGATES PRESENT:

Eliphalet Dyer, David Rowland, Wm. S. Johnson.

Delaware. Theo. McKean, Cæsar Rodney.

Maryland. - Wm. Murdock, Edward Tilghman, Thos. Ringgold.
Massachusetts. - Jas. Otis, Oliver Partridge, Timothy Ruggles.
New Jersey. - Robert Ogden, Hendrick Fisher, Jos. Borden.
New York.-Robt. R. Livingston, Jno. Cruger, Philip Livingston, Wm.
Bayard, Leonard Lispenard.

Pennsylvania.-John Dickenson, John Morton, Geo. Bryan.

Rhode Island. - Metcalf Bowler, Henry Ward.

South Carolina.

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Thos. Lynch, Christopher Gadsden, Jno. Rutledge.

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The English Parliament Stamp Act, passed March 8, 1765, repealed March 18, 1766.

FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

The Boston Port Bill, designed by England as a punishment for the destruction of the tea in December, 1773, transferred the commerce of that city, commencing June 1, 1774, to Salem, Massachusetts. The political effect was to draw the colonies together, and various "town meetings" were held to choose delegates to a Continental Congress to be held at Philadelphia, September 5, 1774.

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