But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
Paul Finkelman (Albany Law School) delivered this talk Tuesday, August 3, at Educational Service District 112 in Vancouver, Washington. In it, he considered the mindset of the colonists calling for revolution. What was the long train of abuses and usurpations to which they referred in The Declaration?
mp3 Audio: Paul Finkelman – A long train of abuses and usurpations?
Supporting documents:
- The Declaration of Independence
- The Constitution of the United States
- Timeline – American Wars 1675-1775
- The Royal Proclamation – October 7, 1763
- A New Map of North America – 1750
- A New Map of North America – 1763 (before the Treaty of Paris)
- A New and Accurate Map of North America – 1763 (after the Treaty of Paris)
- Timeline – Taxes 1732-1775
- Intolerable Acts (1774)
- Patrick Henry bio and reenacted speech
