Excellent article and summary of events prior to April 19th 1775:
http://www.realclearhistory.com/articles/2013/02/05/the_origins_of_american_creed_50-full.html
An excellent article. I used to quote the same basic ideas as an "American Creed" and was surprised to find out that there is actually an official "American Creed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American%27s_Creed)" which not many people I've met know about. It certainly wasn't used at my Naturalization Ceremony.
From a nationwide competition the Clerk of the House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tyler_Page) won with his entry.