DOCUMENT PROJECT 5

Defining Liberty, Defining America

With the failure of the Albany Plan of Union in 1754, it appeared the colonies would not soon unite under a common government. But the conflicts of the 1760s and 1770s prompted many colonists to ask questions about the meaning of liberty under the British crown. The acts and duties imposed by Parliament angered colonists, who believed they had little say in the decision-making process. They resisted in a number of ways, including nonimportation agreements, boycotts, and petitions. At the same time, the colonists had to figure out how to forge new ties among themselves. Broad-based protests would work only if far-flung Americans could communicate effectively. Anger toward Parliament led colonists to band together in resistance.

Discussions over the meanings of liberty and the increasing interconnectedness of the colonies in political matters led many to wonder about the specific qualities of being an American. Most commentators stressed liberty. Yet this liberty applied primarily to whites only, as free and enslaved blacks as well as Indians rarely had the same opportunities.

The following documents examine the evolution of this process—of thirteen colonies increasingly coming to see themselves as part of a larger political entity, even though the idea of declaring independence remained unpopular until the eve of the Revolution. As you read, think about how and why historical circumstances changed so dramatically between 1754 and 1773.