Olive Branch Petition Second Continental Congress sends a petition to King George III asking him to end the conflict. Olive tree: ancient symbol of peace King declares colonies are in “open and avowed rebellion.” Orders his ministers “to bring the traitors to justice.”

Battle of Saratoga 1777 Called the “turning point” battle American victory that convinced France to form an alliance with the colonists; French navy sent to support the American cause

Battle of Yorktown 1781 Last battle American victory won by combined French and American forces General Cornwallis surrendered to General Washington

Treaty of Paris of 1783 Officially ended the War Forced Britain to recognize American independence Gave the United States claim to England’s land which extended to Canada in the North, the Mississippi River in the West, and Florida in the South

Why did America win? Americans fought on their own territory Americans got support and supplies from France and Spain Americans had a strong desire to be independent from England

Thomas Paine Founding Father Published pamphlet entitled Common Sense Wrote that “of more worth is one honest man to society, than all the crowned ruffians who ever lived.” Ruffian is a strong and violent person who threatens and hurts other people 120,000 copies printed Persuaded colonists that independence was sensible and the key to a brighter future.

The Declaration of Independence Second Continental Congress appoints committee to write a formal statement of independence.

Thomas Jefferson Founding Father Committee’s youngest member (33 yrs old) Drafted the Declaration of Independence His job was to explain why the colonies were choosing to separate from Britain.

Natural Rights “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”  To secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.  Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government. John Locke Enlightenment philosopher

The King’s Crimes Your policies are aimed at establishing absolute tyranny over these states. You are unfit to be ruler of a free people. You are committing treason against Great Britain. Rebels and traitors will be brought to justice.

The Slavery Issue Jefferson’s original draft of the declaration charged King George with violating the “sacred rights of life and liberty… of a distant people carrying them into slavery.” NorthSouth Worried New England merchants (who benefitted from slavery) would be offended. Felt it was unfair to blame the king for all of slavery. Feared it might lead to demands to free the slaves. Southern farms depended on slave labor. The passage was removed. Slaves would have to wait 87 more years for emancipation.

Triangular Trade

Independence Day On July 4 th, 1776, delegates approved the final version of the Declaration of Independence. They pledged to support independence with “our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

Perhaps one of the most famous statements in the history of the United States is in the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self- evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

evident Obvious, clear Easy or clear to understand

endowed Given, gifted To give somebody something they want

unalienable cannot be taken away

Liberty Freedom, independence

pursuit Search, quest, striving, goal, aim, objective

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.- -That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.