The Rights of Colonies Examined

Hopkins' pamphlet was widely circulated in the Thirteen Colonies.

The Rights of Colonies Examined was an influential essay published in 1764 by Founding Father Stephen Hopkins.[1] It received widespread circulation and brought hearty approval throughout the colonies. Historian Thomas Bicknell called it "the most remarkable document that was issued during the period preceding the War of the Revolution."[2] Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson wrote that "it was conceived in a higher strain than any that were sent out by other colonies." With this paper, Hopkins became to Rhode Island what Samuel Adams was to Massachusetts and what Thomas Jefferson was to Virginia. It was printed widely, and Hopkins became recognized as one of the leaders of public opinion in the colonies.[3]

## References

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1. ^ The Chronology of American Literature: America's Literary Achievements from the Colonial Era to Modern Times
2. ^ Bicknell, Thomas Williams (1920). The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Vol. 3\. New York: The American Historical Society. p. 140\. OCLC 1953313.
3. ^ Bicknell, p. 1083

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Origins of the American Revolution: writings

American resolves, declarations, petitions, essays and pamphlets prior to the Declaration of Independence (July 1776)

Following the
Stamp Act (1765)|

* Virginia Resolves (May 1765)
* Braintree Instructions (September 1765)
* Declaration of Rights and Grievances (October 1765)
* Leedstown Resolutions (February 1766)
* An Inquiry into the Rights of the British Colonies (1766)

Following the
Townshend Acts (1767)|

* Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania (1767, 1768)
* Massachusetts Circular Letter (February 1768)
* Journal of Occurrences (1768, 1769)
* Virginia Association (May 1769)
* Boston Pamphlet (1772)
* Sheffield Declaration (January 1773)

Following the
Coercive Acts (1774)|

| Maryland|

* Chestertown Resolves (May 1774)
* Talbot Resolves (May 1774)
* Bush River Resolution (March 1775)

|

Massachusetts|

* Suffolk Resolves (September 1774)

New York|

* Orangetown Resolutions (July 1774)
* A Full Vindication of the Measures of Congress (December 1774)
* The Farmer Refuted (February 1775)

North Carolina|

* Rowan Resolves (August 1774)
* Edenton Tea Party (October 1774)
* Mecklenburg Resolves or Declaration (May 1775)
* Liberty Point Resolves (June 1775)
* Tryon Resolves (August 1775)
* Halifax Resolves (April 1776)

Virginia|

* Fairfax Resolves (July 1774)
* Fincastle Resolutions (January 1775)
* Augusta Resolves (February 1775)
* Augusta Declaration (May 1776)
* Virginia Declaration of Rights (June 1776)

First Continental
Congress|

* Declaration and Resolves (October 1774)
* Continental Association (October 1774)
* Petition to the King (October 1774)

Second Continental
Congress|

* Olive Branch Petition (July 1775)
* Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms (July 1775)
* May 15 preamble (May 1776)
* Lee Resolution (July 1776)

Essays and pamphlets|

* The Rights of Colonies Examined (1764)
* "Letters to the Inhabitants of Canada" (1774, 1775, 1776)
* A Summary View of the Rights of British America (1774)
* Novanglus (1775)
* Common Sense (January 1776)
* Thoughts on Government (Spring, 1776)

Related|

* Journals of the Continental Congress

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