Galloway's Plan of Union
Encyclopedia
Galloway's Plan of Union was put forward in the First Continental Congress
of 1774. Joseph Galloway
was a Pennsylvania
delegate who wanted to keep the Thirteen Colonies
in the British Empire
. He suggested the creation of an American colonial parliament
to act together with the Parliament of Great Britain
. On matters relating to the colonies each body would have a veto
over the other's decisions.
The Colonial Parliament would consist of a President-General appointed by the Crown
, and delegates appointed by the colonial assemblies. Galloway's plan would have kept the British Empire together, while allowing the colonies to have some say over their own affairs, including the inflammatory issue of taxation.
Galloway's plan was not accepted by the Congress. The appearance of the Suffolk Resolves
at the Congress led to a polarization of discussion, with the radicals swiftly gaining the upper hand. Galloway's Plan of Union was narrowly defeated by a vote of six to five on 22 October 1774.
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from twelve of the thirteen North American colonies that met on September 5, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, early in the American Revolution. It was called in response to the passage of the Coercive Acts by the...
of 1774. Joseph Galloway
Joseph Galloway
Joseph Galloway was an American Loyalist during the American Revolution, after serving as delegate to the First Continental Congress from Pennsylvania.-Early life:...
was a Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
delegate who wanted to keep the Thirteen Colonies
Thirteen Colonies
The Thirteen Colonies were English and later British colonies established on the Atlantic coast of North America between 1607 and 1733. They declared their independence in the American Revolution and formed the United States of America...
in the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. He suggested the creation of an American colonial parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
to act together with the Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland...
. On matters relating to the colonies each body would have a veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
over the other's decisions.
The Colonial Parliament would consist of a President-General appointed by the Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
, and delegates appointed by the colonial assemblies. Galloway's plan would have kept the British Empire together, while allowing the colonies to have some say over their own affairs, including the inflammatory issue of taxation.
Galloway's plan was not accepted by the Congress. The appearance of the Suffolk Resolves
Suffolk Resolves
The Suffolk Resolves was a declaration made on September 9, 1774 by the leaders of Suffolk County, Massachusetts, of which Boston is the major city. The convention that adopted them first met at the Woodward Tavern in Dedham, which is today the site of the Norfolk County Courthouse...
at the Congress led to a polarization of discussion, with the radicals swiftly gaining the upper hand. Galloway's Plan of Union was narrowly defeated by a vote of six to five on 22 October 1774.