(Reference: Frederick Merk, History of the Westward Movement, Alfred A Knopf, c1980.)

BACKGROUND: The principle of "equal footing" became popular in 1774, following the Boston Tea Party and the imposition of the Coercive Acts. The concept of autonomy and equality was advanced by Sam Adams, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. They took position that the American colonies were autonomous dominions of the King - of equal position or "footing" to the realm of England in the British Empire. Consequently, Parliament had no authority to make laws over the colonies.

In 1774, John Cartwright wrote a pamphlet in England defending the idea of colonial autonomy. Cartwright suggested that not only the original 13 colonies, but nineteen potential additional colonies in the interior should be given status in the Empire of equality with the realm of England under the King.