Moving Towards Independence Chapter 5, Lesson 4

Colonial Leader The Second Continental Congress assembled for the first time on May 10, 1775. Yet we still weren’t talking independence. This would happen more than a year after the initial meeting. Among popular names in the Second Continental Congress were John and Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee and George Washington. Several new delegates will be attending as well.

George Washington Samuel Adams John Adams

Patrick Henry Richard Henry Lee

Colonial Leaders Benjamin Franklin One of the most accomplished and well respected men in the colonies. Influential member of the Pennsylvania legislature. During the Stamp Act crisis in 1765, he represented the colonies in London and helped secure the repeal of the act.

Colonial Leaders John Hancock of Massachusetts 38 year old wealthy merchant. Funded many Patriot groups, including the Sons of Liberty. Was selected to be president of the Second Continental Congress.

Colonial Leaders Thomas Jefferson 32 years old. Had a reputation as a brilliant thinker and writer As a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, he became associated with the movement towards independence.

Benjamin Franklin John Hancock Thomas Jefferson

Colonial Leaders The Second Continental Congress began to govern the colonies. Authorize the printing of money. Post Offices were created with Benjamin Franklin in charge. Created a committee to speak with Native Americans and other countries. Created the Continental Army as a more efficient way to fight the British instead of militias. Washington was selected as the Army’s commander under the recommendation of John Adams.

Colonial Leaders After Washington left to take charge of the colonial forces in Boston, the delegates gave Britain one last chance to avoid all-out war. In July, the congress sent a petition, or formal request, to King George III. It was known as the Olive Branch Petition and its intention was to assure the king of the colonists’ desire for peace. It also requested to protect the colonists rights, which parliament seemed to want to destroy. King George the III refused and instead prepared for war by hiring 30,000 German troops to send to America in order to assist the British troops.

Abigail Adams Name: Abigail Adams (b. 1744 – d. 1818) Relation: Wife of John Adams (Married at age 19 [Adams was 28]) and would eventually be the second of the first ladies. Significance: She shared her husband’s hope of a new nation arising from the conflict. She wanted her husband to take into consideration the rights of women.

The Colonies Take the Offensive Congress learned that the British stationed in Canada were preparing to invade New York. The Americans decided to strike first. A Patriot force heading north from Fort Ticonderoga captured Montreal in November. An American attack led by Benedict Arnold failed at Quebec. They stayed outside the city of Quebec through the winter and returned to Fort Ticonderoga in 1776.

The Colonies Take the Offensive Washington made it to Boston in July 1775 a few weeks after the Battle of Bunker Hill. He found the militias to be growing day by day but they lacked discipline, organization, and leadership. He began to whip them into shape turning these armed civilians into an army. By March 1776, he believed they were ready to fight. He had them form a semicircle around Boston and gave the order to fire cannon shots at the British forces.

The Colonists Take the Offensive Sir William Howe withdrew his troops and boarded their ships. On March 17, Washington led the troops into Boston. The British retreated to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Sir William Howe

Moving Towards Independence Even at this point (Late 1775 and early1776) the colonists would have rather avoided a break from England. However, support for becoming totally independent was on the rise. Thomas Paine published Common Sense in January of 1776. In it he called for complete independence from Great Britain claiming it was “common sense” to stop following the “royal brute” King George III. Said it was more than taxes but a struggle for freedom. It ended up inspiring thousands of Americans.

The Colonies Declare Independence At the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, the meeting hall was full of debate but one issue occupied their minds. Do we declare ourselves an independent nation, or should we remain under British rule? North Carolina instructed its delegates to support independence in April of 1776. Richard Henry Lee proposed that: “That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States… and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”

The Colonies Declare Independence Congress debated this resolution. Some people thought they weren’t ready for that while another large set said we were already at war. While this was debated they chose a committee to write the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson was selected to write it. He heavily borrowed from Locke’s idea of Natural rights, the government’s responsibility to protect rights, and the right to rebellion.

The Colonies Declare Independence On July 2, 1776, they finally voted on the resolution for independence. 12 colonies voted for it. (New York did not vote but supported it later). The delegates took Jefferson’s draft and made changes to it and officially approved it on July 4, 1776. John Hancock was the first to sign and made his signature large for King George III to read it without his glasses. A total o 56 delegates signed the document.

The Colonies Declare Independence Copies were distributed to the newly declared states. Washington read it to his troops on July 9. In celebration, they tore down a statue of King George III in New York. In Worcester, Massachusetts, the reading was followed by cheers, firing of muskets and cannons, bonfires, and other demonstrations.

The Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence has four major sections. Preamble – The introduction. It explains that the people wish to create a new country and should explain their reason for doing so. Declaration of Natural Rights – Explains the (natural) rights that the colonists felt they had. List of Grievances – Complaints held by the colonists Resolution of Independence – The proclamation that said they were now an independent nation.

The Declaration of Independence “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” The Declaration states that government exists to protect the rights mentioned above. If it does not… “it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it and institute a new Government.”

The Declaration of Independence It listed many of the grievances held by the Americans against King George III and Parliament. “cutting off trade with all parts of the world” “imposing taxes on us without our consent.” The Declaration states that the Americans had “Petitioned for Redress” of these grievances. It was ignored by Great Britain. It ends by announcing their new status. Pledged “to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor.” They declared themselves a new nation. And so begins the American Revolution.