Question

"The Congress drew up a declaration of American rights and stated in clear and dignified language the grievances of the colonists. It approved the resistance to British measures offered by Massachusetts and promised the united support of all sections. It prepared an address to King George and another to the people of England, disavowing the idea of independence but firmly attacking the policies pursued by the British government." What does the excerpt from "History of the United States" by Charles and Mary Beard describe regarding the actions of the Congress during this period of American history?

Answer 1

The excerpt describes the First Continental Congress' efforts to address grievances against British Parliament through the Declaration of American Rights and disavowing independence while petitioning King George and addressing the English public, setting a foundation for future steps towards American independence.

Step-by-step explanation:

The excerpt from "History of the United States" by Charles and Mary Beard describes the actions taken by the First Continental Congress in 1774. During this crucial phase in American history, the Congress displayed formal objection to the British Crown in response to the Intolerable Acts.

They took decisive steps including the approval of the Suffolk Resolves, which essentially declared the Intolerable Acts null and void, and then they drafted the Declaration of American Rights.

This document highlighted the rights of colonists, listed various grievances against King George III and the British Parliament, and emphatically denied Parliament's right to legislate on the internal affairs of the colonies.

Importantly, they sent a petition to King George and an address to the English public, hoping to resolve issues without seeking independence. However, these actions set the stage for further development towards independence, leading to the eventual drafting of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress in 1776.

Answer 2

The Congress drafted a declaration of American rights, stated the grievances of the colonists, approved the resistance by Massachusetts, promised united support, prepared an address to King George, and prepared an address to the people of England.

The excerpt from "History of the United States" by Charles and Mary Beard describes the actions of the Congress during a period of American history when it was addressing grievances and responding to British policies. Here are the key points:

Declaration of American Rights: The Congress drafted a declaration that outlined the rights of the American colonists. This declaration likely emphasized the principles of individual liberties, self-governance, and other rights that the colonists believed they were entitled to as British subjects.

Stating Grievances: The Congress used clear and dignified language to articulate the grievances of the colonists against British rule. This could include complaints about taxation without representation, infringements on colonial self-government, and other perceived injustices.

Approval of Resistance by Massachusetts: The Congress expressed approval for the resistance to British measures that had been taken by Massachusetts. This indicates a sense of solidarity among the colonies and a recognition of the need to collectively oppose British policies.

Promise of United Support: The Congress promised the united support of all sections of the colonies. This reflects a commitment to standing together in the face of British actions and a determination to work collectively to address common concerns.

Address to King George: The Congress prepared an address to King George III, likely expressing the colonists' grievances and seeking redress. This indicates a desire to communicate directly with the British monarch and make their concerns known at the highest levels of government

Address to the People of England: In addition to addressing the king, the Congress also prepared an address to the people of England. This suggests an effort to appeal to the British public, disavowing the idea of seeking independence but firmly criticizing the policies pursued by the British government. The goal may have been to garner support and understanding from the British populace.

Overall, during this period, the Congress engaged in diplomatic efforts, expressed unity among the colonies, and communicated their grievances both to the British monarch and the general public in England. This set the stage for the later developments in the lead-up to the American Revolution