1. Patriots, Loyalists, and the Second Continental Congress
Coach Kuntz
United States History

2. The Second Continental Congress
-On May 10, 1775, The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. This was just weeks after the battles at Lexington and Concord.
-Congress hoped to avoid a final break with England. They wanted peace!
-All thirteen colonies sent delegates to this meeting

3. Preparing for British Attack
-While Congress did not want war, in June 1775 they established the Continental Army in order to repel a potential British attack.
-George Washington of Virginia, the hero of the French and Indian War, was appointed commander of the army.

4. Give Peace A Chance
-In July 1775, the delegates sent a petition to King George III (the King of England). This petition was called the Olive Branch Petition.
-The petition declared their loyalty to the king but asked him to repeal the Intolerable Acts.
-The King of England responded to the petition by sending 20,000 soldiers to the colony to crush the revolt.

5. Taking of Fort Ticonderoga
-On May 10, 1775, a blacksmith named Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold led a Vermont militia group known as the Green Mountain Boys in a surprise attack on Fort Ticonderoga.
-They captured the fort from the British and won a valuable supply of cannons and gunpowder.
-The Second Continental Congress DID NOT approve of this attack on the British.

6. Picking Sides in the Upcoming War
Patriots- Favored war against the British.
Loyalists- Colonists who remained loyal to Britain.
NOT ALL COLONISTS WANTED INDEPENDENCE: 1/3 of colonists were Patriots, 1/3 of colonists were Loyalists, and 1/3 of colonists did not pick a side.