II. Second Continental Congress and Continued Fighting

A. The Second Continental Congress 1.Where, When, Who, and What –May 1775: Meet in Philadelphia –New Members: Included Ben Franklin, John Hancock, and Thomas Jefferson

–Many still felt loyalty to the King George III –Blamed the Parliament –Only a few actually wanted independence –The Congress does 3 major things during this meeting

2.Creates Continental Army –Congress agreed to support the war already going on –Turns the New England forces into the Continental Army –June 1775: Appoints George Washington to lead the new army

3.Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms –July 1775: Congress issues this document –Explains why Americans were at war –Accused Parliament for causing the war –Says the war is not to separate from Great Britain but to defend its rights and property

4.Olive Branch Petition –Congress sends this to the King George III –Call themselves “faithful subjects of the Colonies” –Asks the king to make a reconciliation with the colonies –Despite petition the King says the Colonies are in open rebellion –Parliament passes law banning colonial trade outside the British Empire

B. Fighting Continues 1.Green Mountain Boys –Vermont Militia –Organized by Ethan Allen –May : Capture British Fort Ticonderoga –Later captures a fort at Crow Point

2.Siege of Boston –After Lexington and Concord –British Soldiers fall back to Boston and occupy the town –15,000 militia from New England surrounded Boston

–Battle of Bunker Hill pushes the Militia back losing 400 soldiers –British lost 1000 but still won the battle

3. Washington takes Boston –Washington has captured weapons from Ticonderoga brought to Boston –By March 1776: Washington had enough weapons –Takes Boston –Forces the British to retreat out of Boston Harbor –British sail to Halifax Nova Scotia with 1,100 Loyalists (colonists who sympathized with the British)