COLONIAL LEADERS EMERGE The 2 nd Continental Congress met for the 1 st time on May 10, In addition to the delegates from the 1 st Continental Congress, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Thomas Jefferson were new delegates.

A NEW GOVERNMENT The 2 nd Continental Congress governed the colonies. Authorized the printing of money Set up a post office

GEORGE WASHINGTON The 2 nd Continental Congress established a Continental Army with George Washington as the commander.

OLIVE BRANCH PETITION Sent a formal request to King George III asking for peace and for the king to protect the colonists rights. King George refused the “Olive Branch Petition” and prepared for war.

CONTINENTAL ARMY Washington trained the army, and on March 17,1776, led his troops into Boston after surrounding the city and forcing the redcoats to withdraw.

MONTREAL After an Attack on New York by the British in Canada, the American troops at Ft. Ticonderoga struck and captured Montreal in November.

QUEBEC American troops failed to capture Quebec but stayed outside the city through the winter and returned to Fort Ticonderoga in 1776.

INDEPENDENCE The 2 nd Continental formed a committee to draft a Declaration of Independence. Members included Jefferson, Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston.

SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE On July 2, 1776, twelve colonies voted for the resolution for independence. On July 4 th, they approved the Declaration with some changes. John Hancock was the first to sign it. His signature was so large that the king would have no trouble reading it.

The Principles of the Declaration of Independence The Declaration has 4 main sections –The preamble or introduction –A list of the rights of the colonists –A list of the grievances against Britain –A proclamation claiming the emergence of a new nation

OPPOSING SIDES In order for the colonies to actually gain their independence from Britain, they had to fight a war. No one expected it to last so long, however.

The Patriots or Americans who supported independence, faced several obstacles. Britain had a larger population—9 million against 2.5 million. BRITISH ADVANTAGE

TROOPS Britain had the strongest navy in the world and a well- trained army as well. Americans did not have a regular army or navy. Many colonists belonged to militias who were basically volunteers and served for short periods of time.

THE UNDECIDED Not all Americans supported the war. Some were neutral, some were opposed to fighting, and some were loyal to Britain.

LOYALISTS Supported Britain for several reasons Some were members of the Anglican Church and thus loyal to Britain. Some depended on the British for jobs. Some feared the changes a new government might bring and feared challenging an existing government. Some just did not understand the war. Loyalist strength varied from region to region but was strongest in the Carolinas and Georgia.

AFRICAN AMERICANS Some African Americans were promised their freedom if they fought on the British side, so they became Loyalists.