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

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The Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms was a document issued by the Second Continental Congress on July 6, 1775, to explain why they felt compelled to take up arms in revolt at Lexington and Concord 78 days earlier. The final draft of the Declaration was written by John Dickinson, who incorporated language from an earlier draft by Thomas Jefferson.

It is an interesting read, that provides great insight into the mindset of our founding fathers. It helps explain what they defined as liberties and freedoms that were worth contesting. And why they took up arms to protect and defend them at great personal cost and sacrifice.

It is also a precursor to the more famous Declaration of Independence signed a year latter July 4th 1776. If you read both documents you will hear the echos of thoughts expressed in the Declaration of Causes reflected in the Declaration of Independence.

The "Causes" certainly provides good material and context to the telling of the history. And you could either work the "Causes" into the pre April 19th section of the First strike. Or as part of the epilogue of the the third strike.

http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/D/1751-1775/war/causes.htm