On this day in New York City, the New York Provincial Congress adopted the General Association that declared

Persuaded that the salvation of the Rights and Liberties of America, depends under God, on the firm union of its inhabitants, in a vigorous prosecution of the measures necessary for its safety, and convinced of the necessity of preventing the anarchy and confusion which attend a dissolution of the powers of Government, We the Deputies of the different Counties of the Colony of New-York in Provincial Congress convened, being greatly alarmed at the avowed design of the Ministry, to raise a revenue in America, and shocked by the bloody scene now acting in the Massachusetts – Bay, DO in the most solemn manner resolve never to become Slaves, and do associate under all the ties of Religion, Honour and Love to our Country, to adopt and endeavour to carry into execution whatever measures may be recommended by the Continental-Congress or resolved upon by this Provincial Congress for the purpose of preserving our Constitution, and opposing the execution of the several arbitrary and oppressive acts of the British Parliament, until a reconciliation between Great Britain and America, on constitutional principles, (which we most ardently desire), can be obtained; and that will in all things, follow the advice of our respective County Committees, respecting the purposes aforesaid, the preservation of Peace and good order, and the safety of individuals and private Property.

Source: https://www.cnyhistory.org/2015/05/general-association/

On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress adopted four resolutions:

The Congress adopted four resolutions introduced by Samuel Ward of Rhode Island:

1. That his Majesty’s most faithful subjects, in these colonies, are reduced to a dangerous and critical situation, by the attempts of the British Ministry to carry into execution, by force of arms, several unconstitutional and oppressive acts of the British parliament for laying taxes in America; to enforce the collection of those taxes, and for altering and changing the constitution and internal police of some of these colonies, in violation of the natural and civil rights of the colonists.

2. Hostilities being actually commenced in the Massachusetts bay, by the British troops, under the command of General Gage, and the lives of a number of the inhabitants of that colony destroyed, the town of Boston having not only been long occupied as a garrisoned town in an enemy’s country, but the inhabitants thereof treated with a severity and cruelty not to be justified even towards declared enemies; large re-inforcements too being ordered and soon expected, for the declared purpose of compelling these colonies to submit to the operation of the said acts; Resolved, therefore, that for the express purpose of securing and defending these colonies, and preserving them in safety against all attempts to carry the said acts into execution by force of arms, these colonies be immediately put into a state of defense.

3. But, as we most ardently wish for a restoration of the harmony formerly subsisting between our Mother country and these colonies, the interruption of which must, at all events, be exceedingly injurious to both countries, Resolved, that with a sincere design of contributing by all the means in our power, not incompatible with a just regard for the undoubted rights and true interests of these colonies, to the promotion of this most desirable reconciliation, an humble and dutiful petition be presented to his Majesty.

4. Resolved, That measures be entered into for opening a Negotiation, in order to accommodate the unhappy disputes subsisting between Great Britain and these colonies, and that this be made a part of the petition to the King.

As a result of the third resolution a committee of Congress began drafting the “Olive Branch Petition” — the last attempt by Congress to reconcile with Britain short of war and independence.

Sources: https://americanfounding.org/entries/second-continental-congress-may-26-1775/; https://250andcounting.com/2025/05/26/may-26-1775-one-more-attempt-at-peace/

Although this day would be celebrated as Memorial Day only by future generations, 250 years ago, Congress’s second resolution shows that Americans were memorializing “the lives of a number of the inhabitants of” Massachusetts lost at Lexington and Concord in the fight to secure American liberty.