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Primary sourceBook1776

Strictures upon the Declaration of the Congress at Philadelphia

Thomas Hutchinson · 1776

A 1776 pamphlet by Thomas Hutchinson attacking the Declaration of Independence point by point, from a Loyalist's viewpoint.

Hutchinson wrote this pamphlet himself as his direct, personal rebuttal to the Declaration of Independence.

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About this source

What it is

This pamphlet was written by Thomas Hutchinson, the exiled former governor of Massachusetts Bay, in 1776. It is framed as a letter answering the Declaration of Independence issued by the Congress at Philadelphia, going through its charges against the King one by one. Copies are held today by the Library of Congress and the John Carter Brown Library.

Why it matters

Hutchinson's pamphlet is considered the most prominent Loyalist rebuttal of the Declaration. It shows that not all colonists agreed with the case for independence, and reveals how a man who had once governed Massachusetts viewed the Revolution as a rebellion built on exaggerated or false grievances rather than real tyranny.

Look closer

  • Why might Hutchinson have wanted the facts behind each grievance spelled out more clearly?
  • What does his tone suggest about his feelings toward the Congress and its supporters?
  • How might a reader loyal to the Crown versus a supporter of independence react differently to this text?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Thomas Hutchinson on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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