In September of 1774, Dr. Joseph Warren wrote the Suffolk Resolves.

British statesman Edmund Burke cited the Suffolk Resolves as a major development in colonial animosity, which eventually led to the Declaration of Independence.

The Suffolk Resolves stated:

“That it is an indispensable duty which we owe to God, our country, ourselves and posterity,

by all lawful ways and means in our power to maintain, defend and preserve those civil and religious rights and liberties, for which many of our fathers fought, bled, and died, and to hand them down entirely to future generations …

and that the inhabitants of those towns and districts … do use their utmost diligence to acquaint themselves with the art of war as soon as possible,

and do, for that purpose, appear under arms at least once every week.”