1. Chapter 5 The Spirit of Independence (1763-1776)
Section 4 Moving Toward Independence

2. Why did the American colonies choose to declare independence?
Essential Question
Why did the American colonies choose to declare independence?
Why did the American colonies chose to declare independence?

3. Colonial Leaders Emerge
May 10, 1775 at the Second Continental Congress
Many were NOT ready to break with Britain
Many of the same delegates from the First Continental Congress
Also Ben Franklin- he had represented the colonies in London and helped repeal the act
John Hancock was also there- Hancock had funded the Sons of Liberty
Hancock was chosen president of the First Continental Congress
32 year old Thomas Jefferson was also there

4. Second Continental Congress
Began to govern the colonies
Authorized printing money
Set up a post office with Franklin in charge
Committees were set up to communicate with Indians and other countries
Most important, Congress created the Continental Army
Would be more organized than the militias
George Washington was unanimously chosen as the army’s commander

5. Continental Congress and Peace
The delegates offered Britain one last chance to avoid war
Congress sent a petition (formal request) to King George III
Called the Olive Branch Petition
Said the colonists wanted peace
Asked the King to protect their rights
George III refused the petition
Instead he prepared for war
Hired more than 30,000 German troops (Hessians) to fight beside the British

6. The Colonies Take Offense
The Colonist found out the British were going to invade New York
The Americans decided to strike first and attack Montreal (They captured it)
The Americans failed to take Quebec
Washington reached Boston in 1775 and realized the army lacked discipline, organization, and leadership
Washington began to shape the citizens into an army

7. Continental Army March 1776, Washington decided they were ready
The army was set in a semicircle around Boston
Washington gave the order to bombard the British with cannons
The redcoats under General Howe withdrew from the city
March 17th, Washington led the jubilant troops into Boston
The British sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia

8. Early 1776 Support for absolute independence was growing
Thomas Paine published a pamphlet called Common Sense
Paine called the King “the Royal Brute”
Paine said “’Tis time to part”
The call for independence became a roar

9. Second Continental Congress
Second Continental Congress was filled with debate
Should the colonies declare themselves an independent nation or stay under British rule?
Richard Henry Lee said “all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved”

10. Debate over Independence
Congress debated Lee’s resolution
Some thought the colonies were not ready to form a separate nation
Others argued that war had already begun
Still others feared Britain’s power to crush the rebellion
Congress decided to draft a Declaration of Independence

11. Declaration of Independence
Jefferson wrote
Used John Locke’s idea that people were born with certain natural rights including
Life, liberty, and property
People formed governments to protect these rights
Also that a government that interferes with these rights might be overthrown

12. D.O.I. Final Touches
July 2nd, 1776 Congress voted on Lee’s resolution for independence
12 colonies voted for it (New York later announced support)
Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence was approved with some changes on July 4th, 1776
John Hancock was the first to sign
Signed it so large that King George could read it without his glasses
56 delegates signed the paper announcing the Birth of the United States
Copies of the Declaration of Independence were distributed to the newly declared states

13. Parts of the D.O.I Four major sections 1. Preamble (Introduction)
2. Lists the rights colonists believed they should have and the right of people to abolish a government that does not protect these rights
3. List of grievances against the King and Parliament
4. Announcement of Independence

14. Why did the American colonies choose to declare independence?
Essential Question
Why did the American colonies choose to declare independence?
King George ignored the colonists’ Olive Branch petition, in which they tried to avoid war.
The Colonists learned the British were planning to invade New York.
Thomas Paine published an influential pamphlet, Common Sense, which called for complete independence.
Why did the American colonies chose to declare independence?