the name given in American history to certain rules passed by the Federal Congress abridging the right of petition. They were the result of the agitation of the northern Abolitionists, who presented petitions to Congress urging the abolition of slavery or steps to that end. John Quincy Adams identified himself with this movement and presented a vast majority of the petitions sent to Congress. In May, 1835, however, the so-called Pinckney Resolutions were adopted, practically providing that such petitions should he disregarded.