American Scripture

In American Scripture, Maier highlights the importance of the Continental Congress in managing the colonies' response to British rule and steering the process toward independence. She describes how the Congress was initially divided, with many delegates hesitant about declaring independence. Over time, however, through debate and negotiation, the Congress unified around the idea of breaking from Britain. Maier underscores the Congress's role as the political body that helped shape the colonies' transition to self-governance and played a crucial role in the approval of the Declaration of Independence.

In the context of this book, a declaration is a political document declaring a people’s rights and a government’s obligations. Maier cites the 1689 English Declaration of Rights as inaugurating this tradition, which American leaders drew from in drafting the Declaration of Independence.

Maier devotes significant attention to the Grievances section of the Declaration, noting that it was crucial to the colonists at the time, even though it's often overlooked today. The grievances listed specific abuses by King George III and were meant to prove that British rule had become illegitimate. Maier points out that these grievances were crafted to resonate with various colonial audiences, serving both to justify independence and to foster unity among the colonies by presenting the king as a tyrant whose actions warranted rebellion.