{"product_id":"1776-delaware-revolutionary-legislative-archive","title":"1776 DELAWARE REVOLUTIONARY LEGISLATIVE ARCHIVE","description":"\u003ch1 data-section-id=\"1g9fmtb\" data-start=\"221\" data-end=\"265\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eDELAWARE REVOLUTIONARY LEGISLATIVE ARCHIVE\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"1rt33ij\" data-start=\"267\" data-end=\"389\"\u003e\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"270\" data-end=\"389\"\u003eFounding the Government of Delaware: An Extraordinary Archive of Original Revolutionary War Legislative Manuscripts\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"1dawan3\" data-start=\"390\" data-end=\"527\"\u003e\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"394\" data-end=\"527\"\u003eOriginal Committee Drafts Establishing the Judiciary, Requiring Oaths of Allegiance, and Organizing the Administration of Justice\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"528\" data-end=\"557\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"528\" data-end=\"557\"\u003eCirca September 1776–1777\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"559\" data-end=\"719\"\u003eOne of the finest surviving groups of Revolutionary legislative manuscripts documenting the creation of civil government in one of the original thirteen states.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"721\" data-end=\"1092\"\u003eThis remarkable archive consists of original working committee drafts prepared for the Delaware General Assembly during the earliest months of American independence. Written immediately after Delaware adopted its Constitution of 1776, these manuscripts record the legislative process by which a former British colony transformed itself into an independent American state.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1094\" data-end=\"1322\"\u003eUnlike printed session laws or engrossed acts, these are authentic legislative working papers, preserving extensive editorial revisions, insertions, deletions, and interlineations that reveal the drafting of the laws themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"hax706\" data-start=\"1324\" data-end=\"1347\"\u003eIncluded Manuscripts\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"17cilbp\" data-start=\"1349\" data-end=\"1444\"\u003e\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1353\" data-end=\"1444\"\u003e1. An Act for Confirming \u0026amp; Establishing the Several Courts of Justice within this State\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1446\" data-end=\"1813\"\u003eReported September 30, 1776, and ordered to be engrossed, this landmark bill established Delaware's independent judiciary while preserving legal continuity following separation from Great Britain. The manuscript explicitly references the recently adopted Declaration of Independence, placing it among the earliest legislative acknowledgments of American independence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"1815\" data-end=\"1818\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"yrp9bp\" data-start=\"1820\" data-end=\"1926\"\u003e\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1824\" data-end=\"1926\"\u003e2. An Act to oblige certain Persons therein described to take the Oaths of Abjuration \u0026amp; Allegiance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1928\" data-end=\"2137\"\u003eA complete multi-page committee draft requiring judges, attorneys, jurors, schoolmasters, teachers, and public officials to renounce allegiance to the British Crown and swear fidelity to the State of Delaware.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2139\" data-end=\"2400\"\u003eParticularly noteworthy are the provisions governing public education, requiring schoolmasters and instructors to demonstrate loyalty before continuing to teach, illustrating the legislature's recognition of education's role in preserving republican government.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"2402\" data-end=\"2405\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"h2ktpq\" data-start=\"2407\" data-end=\"2468\"\u003e\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"2411\" data-end=\"2468\"\u003e3. A Supplementary Act to the Small Causes Courts Act\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2470\" data-end=\"2743\"\u003eThis manuscript reforms the administration of Delaware's newly established courts by regulating juries, witnesses, subpoenas, constables, and court procedure. It demonstrates the practical work of transforming constitutional independence into a functioning judicial system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"2745\" data-end=\"2748\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"1353kst\" data-start=\"2750\" data-end=\"2774\"\u003eHistorical Importance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2776\" data-end=\"2891\"\u003eTaken together, these manuscripts illustrate virtually every stage in the formation of Delaware's civil government:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"2893\" data-end=\"3100\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1r27c70\" data-start=\"2893\" data-end=\"2921\"\u003eEstablishing the judiciary\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"14qg9i0\" data-start=\"2922\" data-end=\"2948\"\u003eOrganizing county courts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1w2anl5\" data-start=\"2949\" data-end=\"2972\"\u003eAdministering justice\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"12xj3g\" data-start=\"2973\" data-end=\"2995\"\u003eDefining citizenship\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"my6yqy\" data-start=\"2996\" data-end=\"3028\"\u003eRequiring political allegiance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"vytee2\" data-start=\"3029\" data-end=\"3062\"\u003eRegulating juries and witnesses\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"qoeyz0\" data-start=\"3063\" data-end=\"3100\"\u003eCreating a functioning legal system\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3102\" data-end=\"3206\"\u003eRather than commemorating the Revolution, these manuscripts document how independence became government.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"sgkise\" data-start=\"3208\" data-end=\"3235\"\u003ePhysical Characteristics\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"3237\" data-end=\"3462\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1nldofc\" data-start=\"3237\" data-end=\"3289\"\u003eOriginal Revolutionary War legislative manuscripts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"v2f831\" data-start=\"3290\" data-end=\"3317\"\u003eDelaware General Assembly\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1i6lba8\" data-start=\"3318\" data-end=\"3335\"\u003eCirca 1776–1777\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"iun4iq\" data-start=\"3336\" data-end=\"3363\"\u003eOriginal committee drafts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1djkpeq\" data-start=\"3364\" data-end=\"3393\"\u003eIron-gall ink on laid paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"zfpf8a\" data-start=\"3394\" data-end=\"3428\"\u003eExtensive contemporary revisions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"p0p5dm\" data-start=\"3429\" data-end=\"3462\"\u003eExcellent state of preservation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52494879228186,"sku":null,"price":39990.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_1497_847eaedc-4113-4d83-9796-7663fc319b2e.jpg?v=1784046724","url":"https:\/\/princetonaudubonprints.com\/en-ca\/products\/1776-delaware-revolutionary-legislative-archive","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}