From: Jack D. Drummond
Date: 2/15/00
Time: 10:14:26 AM
Remote Name: 216.59.55.200
The Resolutions of the Stamp Act appears to be a much less revolutionary document than the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Throughout the course of the document the English monarchy is shown an almost sickening level of respect and admiration. The author of this document acknowledges the fact that the colonists are English citizens and should enjoy the rights of English citizens. However, he goes on to say that as English citizens the colonists cannot be represented in Parliament by legislators who are not from or haven’t been elected by the colonists. The author wishes to continue to live under English rule with representation in Parliament by colonist-elected legislators. The author is simply asking for no taxation without representation. He then goes on to demonstrate the unfairness of the taxes, claiming that they were hampering trade and growth within the colonies, and seemed to be geared simply towards increasing the revenue of the Crown. Many of these same grievances are voiced under the Virginia Declaration of Rights. However, the Virginia Declaration of Rights is aimed less at placating the English government and more at founding a new and independent government in the colonies based on principles that were appropriated from John Locke. The Virginia Declaration or Rights was written eleven years after the Resolutions of the Stamp Act and I believe it shows a growing dissatisfaction with English rule. At the time of the Resolutions of the Stamp Act the author felt that the colonies could go on under English rule if the colonists were shown a little more respect from the English government. I think the Virginia Declaration of Rights is a more revolutionary document because the English government had failed to address the grievances of the colonists voiced in the Resolutions to the Stamp Act.