Ronald Reagan Quotes
The First Continental Congress made its first act a prayer, the beginning of a great tradition. We have then a lesson from the founders of our land. That lesson is clear: That in the winning of freedom and in the living of life, the first step is prayer.
Reagan, Ronald. "Proclamation 5017—National Day of Prayer, 1983." 27 Jan. 1983. Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Ronald Reagan, 1983, Book 1, United States Government Printing Office, 1984, p. 130.
The Continental Army needed everything from uniforms to muskets, mules to food. The British were mobilizing in force. General Washington was pleading for material assistance. Some members of Congress thought the spiritual was as, if not more important. See {583803} for other Continental Congress spiritual contributions to the war effort.
The landowners of New York’s Dutchess County were relatively well to do. They had been enthusiastic supporters of the Continental Congress so that the latter could impress upon the British Authorities the economic injustices but the Dutchess County landowners were less enthused about confrontation over incidents in far away Boston. The plea here was to principle, patriotism and not to self interest.
Many people are surprised that such an anti-slavery could have passed given the Southern states’ position regarding slavery. However, this resolution did not end slavery—just American participation in the slave trade. This would have actually increased the value of the existing slaves in the colonies as “cheap imports” would no longer depress the value of American slaves. The Southern perception was there were enough slaves for their needs and they could breed more. The other states, generally opposing slavery took what they could get---a ban on the slave trade. A major economic fact of the time was the vast majority of the slave trade imports were going to the British Colonies in the Caribbean. Cutting off the American slave trade would do much more harm to the economic interests of Britain than the United States where the only people economically hurt would be the Yankee captains and slave traders who were not very popular of politically connected except in Rhode Island.
Lee although born in England was one of the most ardent of the patriots fighiting the British. This oath was even considered extreme at the time. He was considered a super hawk by Washington and others. He became the Senior Major General and if anything had happened to Washington he would have command. He was an extremist who thought himself far more militarily qualified than Washington. See {59589} and {55885} for two of his slights against Washington.
George Washington, 1732-1799, 1st President of the United States (VA), in a consolation statement to John Laurens who had reported failure getting the Continental Congress to accept one of Washington’s proposals. See related quotes.
This resolution of independence was voted upon a month before the Declaration of Independence. It was approved by 12 of the colonies but not by New York. The Congress appointed a committee to draft what became the Declaration of Independence and that was approved by all the colonies. The resolution was introduced by Richard Henry Lee on instructions from Virginia. The graphic is of Lee’s original notes.
1st Earl of Chatham. The Continental Congress had endorsed and sent to England a set of resolutions from Suffolk County, Massachusetts, drawn up by Joseph Warren. Legislators forever since have admired the logic and presentation of the case for America. The King and the Prime Minister failed to heed Pitt’s view, and the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution followed.
Ronald Wilson Reagan was an American politician who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and became a highly influential voice of modern conservatism. Prior to his presidency, he was a Hollywood actor and union leader before serving as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 to 1975.
