Pennsylvania’s assembly formally barred its delegates from supporting independence

Evidence

Late in 1775, after Congress authorized New Hampshire to replace its royal charter with a republican constitution, Dickinson secured instructions from the Pennsylvania Assembly directing its congressional delegation to “dissent from and utterly reject any propositions, should such be made, that may cause or lead to a separation from our Mother Country.” — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 180

Categorization

• XREF: Explains why the Pennsylvania delegation initially refused to sign independence and why Dickinson, a key reconciliation figure, never signed the Declaration. — connects to: Popular insurgency removed Pennsylvania’s reconciliation leaders — Edward J. Larson, Declaring Independence, 182