THE INCREDIBLE HISTORY
Take one minute to read what historians said about the significance of the Committee of Correspondence.
WHAT HISTORIANS SAIDSIMPLE BUT POWERFUL
Committees simply a) post regular statements describing rights and their abuses, and b) share these with other Committees.
COMMITTEE OVERVIEWWHO CAN JOIN
Any group of Americans can start a Committee and become the patriot voice in their city.
HOW DO I STARTView our Getting Started guide
Any group of patriots can easily form a Committee of Correspondence.
GET STARTEDGET HELPWhat were the Committees of Correspondence?
The Committees were the branchild of Sam Adams, Father of the American Revolution.
READ WHAT HISTORIANS WROTE“It was very easy to establish and form a local Committee of Correspondence. Any localized group of Patriots could form a committee and join the vast network of Committees of Correspondence and serve as the Patriot voice for their respective region.”
Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum
“The committees played a major role in promoting colonial unity and in summoning in September 1774 the First Continental Congress, a majority of whose delegates were committee members.”
Encyclopedia Brittanica
“…the Speaker of the Assembly of Pennsylvania…challenged the committees as…’the beginning of republicanism.’”
The Invention of a Public Machine for Revolutionary Sentiment
What does a Committee do?
A Committee’s main unit of work is a weekly Proclamation—a written statement describing rights and their violations. Each Proclamation is disseminated in two ways.
MISSION#1: TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Whether it’s posted on a website, social media, a flyer, letter to the editor, or other form of communication, a Proclamation is addressed to the public at large residing in the same community as the issuing Committee.
#2: TO OTHER COMMITTEES
The Committee forwards the Proclamation to neighboring Committees, each of which has a chance to adopt it (or create their own) and address it to the general public in their community.
LEGACY
The impact of the Committees of Correspondence
The Committees were the driving force behind the colonial liberty movement, and were comprised of men like Thomas Jefferson, John Jay, Sam Adams, and Patrick Henry. The Continental Congress, Boston Tea Party, and Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride were not disconnected, spontaneous events but grew directly out of the Committees.
LEARN MORE
How the Founders created the first social network in North America
The Committee system linked patriots together across the entire continent in a vast network. Each one was simple to create, repeatable, and scalable.
1
AT THE TOWN LEVEL
It was easy for patriots in each town to create a Committee. Once done, they invited neighboring towns to do the same and link back with them.
2
AT THE COLONY LEVEL
Soon, colony-level Committees were created to communicate internally with each town Committees but also laterally to other colony-level Committees.
READ ABOUT THE NETWORK3
AT THE CONTINENT LEVEL
The best members of the local Committees were sent to a continental Committee to speak for all patriots in North America: the Continental Congress.
How would modern Committees operate?
The Committee system is so versatile it can be used today. Here’s what that looks like.
GET STARTEDMEET REGULARLY
The original Committees met weekly. Build bonds with fellow patriots by joining your local Committee, and work to advance liberty in your area.
DRAFT PROCLAMATIONS
Committees educate their neighbors through public Proclamations, speaking with one voice, describing what their rights are and how they are being violated. This can be done on websites, social media, flyers, letters-to-the-editor, op-eds, or ads.
CONNECT TO OTHER COMMITTEES
The genius of Sam Adams’ Committee system is that the work of local Committees were amplified through coordination with other Committees. Your Committee should send copies of your proclamations to neighboring Committees and consider adopting their proclamations.
BE ACTIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY
By meeting with your fellow Committee member, you’ll create bonds with like-minded individuals.
As representatives of patriots in your community, get to know them. Visit with community leaders and offer assistance.
What differentiates the Committees of Correspondence from other grassroots organizations?
There are numerous patriotic grassroots organizations. Here are distinct advantages of the Committees system.
LOW ENTRY BARRIER
Any group of patriots can start a Committee in their city. It costs nothing to start, join, or operate a Committee. It is not a 501(c)(3) and there is no money to handle.
EASY TO OPERATE
Committees meet to draft and approve weekly Proclamations to share with the public and with other Committees.
GENERALIZED AND UNIVERSAL
Organizations are often formed in a specific purpose or to address the needs of a specific area. The versatile Committee system can operate anywhere under any conditions.
REPEATABLE AND SCALABLE
Committees are easily created in cities. When several neighboring Committees exist, they can add a County Committee. With multiple County Committees, a State Committee can be added, eventually leading to a single Continental Committee.
GAIN EXPERIENCE
Members serving on Committees can quickly gain just the type of skills and support necessary to be effective political and elected leaders.
WIN PUBLIC SUPPORT
Through their weekly Proclamations, Committees create a body of common-sense policy that will compare favorably to existing law, winning public support.
Despite a population 1% of ours, how was it there were so many Founding Fathers?
The Committees of Correspondence functioned as a platform for burgeoning statesmen to rapidly gain political experience, become leaders in their communities, and network with like-minded patriots.