Schohary250 Update - October 29, 1774the Continental Congress Declares Economic War

On October 20, 1774 ,  delegates from the 13 Colonies meeting in Philadelphia adopted The Articles of Association.   Don’t be fooled by the innocuous sounding title….it was a declaration of ECONOMIC warfare with the Crown, that would soon escalate to a shooting war.

So, what actions were they committing to?

• Refusal to import from Great Britain any goods, wares, or merchandise whatsoever, including any molasses, syrups, paneles, coffee, or pimento, nor wines from Madeira, or the Western Islands; nor foreign indigo.

•  neither import nor purchase, any slave imported after the first day of December next; after which time, we will wholly discontinue the slave trade, nor will we hire our vessels, nor sell our commodities or manufactures to those who are concerned in it.   …

• not purchase or use any tea, imported on account of the East-India company, 

• improve the breed of sheep, and increase their number to the greatest extent; and to that end, we will kill them as seldom as may be

• encourage frugality, economy, and industry, and promote agriculture, arts and the manufactures of this country, especially that of wool; and will discountenance and discourage every species of extravagance and dissipation, especially all horse-racing, and all kinds of games, cock fighting, exhibitions of shews, plays, and other expensive diversions and entertainments;

• on the death of any relation or friend, none of us, or any of our families will go into any further mourning-dress, than a black crepe or ribbon on the arm or hat, for gentlemen, and a black ribbon and necklace for ladies, and we will discontinue the giving of gloves and scarves at funerals.

With the Articles of Association, the Continental Congress struck back at the Crown and Parliament with wide ranging self - imposed economic controls that actually went much farther than the Intolerable Acts.

For a more lengthy discussion of the Articles of Association, check out: 

www.Schohary250.org and our Facebook page:  Revolutionary Schohary 250th, Schoharie County NY

Contributed by John Osinski