British legislation itself, not American initiative, supplied the colonies’ legal basis for independence.

Evidence

Adams called it the “piratical Act, or plundering Act, or Act of Independency,” and commented that by it, “King Lords and Commons have united in Sundering this Country and that I think forever.” He added, “It may be fortunate that the Act of Independency should come from the British Parliament, rather than the American Congress: But it is very odd that Americans should hesitate at accepting Such a Gift.” — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 128

Categorization

• DEFINE: Shows the founders’ own framing: that parliamentary action could legally sunder the colonies rather than merely oppress them, a key interpretive move in the independence debate.
• XREF: connects to: The F.L.N. framed independence as seized, not granted.

Broader Connections

• The F.L.N. framed independence as seized, not granted. #contradicts (0.85)