1. Background Info-1 st Continental Congress  After Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts, life got harder for colonists in Boston.  Boston Harbor was closed, so shipments of food could not be delivered. Boston asked for help, and other colonies transported goods to Massachusetts.  The colonies decided to come together and discuss problems with England. 1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

2. When & Where Did the Congress Meet?  The First Continental Congress met September 5 – October 26, 1774.  They met in Philadelphia, PA at Carpenter’s Hall. 1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

3. Purpose of the Congress  Colony leaders wanted to appear unified in their response to England, so representatives from each colony (except Georgia) met.  Three objectives:  to compose a statement of colonial rights  to identify Parliament’s violation of those rights  to provide a plan that would convince Britain to restore those rights peacefully. 1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

4. Purpose of the Congress (Cont’d)  The purpose of the First Continental Congress was NOT to declare independence.  Many different viewpoints were represented – some colony leaders really wanted a solution to conflicts with Britain and a chance to stand up for the colonists’ rights. Others wanted to find a way to break away completely.  Colonists especially wanted to address the violation of their rights and problems caused by the Intolerable Acts peacefully. 1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

5. Who Was Involved?  Delegates (representatives) were elected from each colony except Georgia.  56 delegates that represented every colony (except Georgia) met.  Famous leaders, such as Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and George Washington were delegates. 1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

6. What Was Accomplished?  Delegates created a statement of rights in the form of a petition – the “Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress.”  Delegates declared the Intolerable Acts illegal and agreed to boycott trade with Britain.  Delegates created the “Continental Association” to enforce the boycott and provide leadership to the colonies.  Delegates also discussed the need to train local militia. 1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

7. Next Steps?  The petition was sent to England.  The Congress agreed to meet again on May 10, 1775 if the King and Parliament did not respond to their petition. 1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

8. Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress That the [people] of the English colonies in North America, by the laws of nature, the principles of the English constitution, and the several charters or compacts, have the following RIGHTS: 1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

9. Resolved… That they are entitled to life, liberty, and property. 1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

10. What Does It Mean?  Colonists have natural rights that include life, freedom, and property. 1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

11. Resolved… That the foundation of English liberty, and of all free government, is a right in the people to participate in their legislative council: and as the English colonists are not represented, and from their local and other circumstances, cannot properly be represented in the British parliament, they are entitled to a free and exclusive power of legislation in their several provincial legislatures, where their right of representation can alone be preserved, in all cases of taxation and internal polity [civil order, or organized government]. 1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

12. What Does It Mean?  The foundation of freedom and free government is the right to representative government. Since the colonists are not represented in Parliament, the power of legislation in all matters of government and taxation belong to the colonial legislatures. 1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

13. Resolved… That they have a right peaceably to assemble, consider of their grievances, and petition the king; and that all prosecutions, prohibitory proclamations, and commitments for the same, are illegal. 1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

14. What Does It Mean? The colonists have a right to meet together, talk about their grievances, and petition their king. Any laws or arrests that violate those rights are illegal. 1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

15. Resolved… That the keeping of a standing army in these colonies, in times of peace, without the consent of the legislature of that colony, in which such army is kept, is against law. 1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

16. What Does It Mean? It is against the law for Britain to keep an army in any colony in times of peace without the approval of the legislature of that colony. 1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

17. The Second Continental Congress  Who?  John Adams  Samuel Adams  Patrick Henry  Richard Henry Lee  George Washington  Ben Franklin  Thomas Jefferson  John Hancock  All delegates of the First Continental Congress

18. The Second Continental Congress Continued…  What did it do?  Authorized the printing of money  Set up a post office with Franklin in charge  Established committees to communicate with the Native Americans and other countries  Organized the Continental Army to fight against Britain in an organized way  Unanimously chose George Washington to be the army’s General Commander and Chief

19. The Olive Branch Petition  Second Continental Congress gave the British one final chance to avoid all out war  This PETITION assured the king of the colonists desire for peace  Asked for him to protect the colonists rights  King George III denied the Olive Branch Petition  Hired 30,000 German troops to send to America

20. Possibly no other writer than Thomas Paine did more to inspire Americans to obtain their independence from Great Britain and to strive to spread the principles of the American Revolution to Europe.

21. In January 1776, he published his 47- page pamphlet, Common Sense.

22. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense  Captured the attention of the Colonists  Paine called for complete independence from Britain  Argued that it was simply “Common Sense” to stop following the “Royal Brute” King George III  Common Sense INSPIRED Americans

23. "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the services of their country; but he that stands it NOW deserves the love and thanks of man and woman." (The American Crisis, 1776) "The period of debate is closed. Arms, as a last resource, must decide the contest.“ (Common Sense, 1776) "Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one." (Common Sense, 1776) Famous Quotes:

24. Declaring Independence  Colonies needed to make a decision, Should they declare themselves an independent nation? Or should they stay under British rule?  Virginia’s Richard Henry Lee proposed a resolution : “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.”  As the Resolution was debated, Thomas Jefferson was selected to draft a Declaration of Independence

25. independence : (n) the freedom to govern on one’s own. declaration : (n) an official statement

26. Who was involved?  Benjamin Franklin  John Adams  Robert R. Livingston  Roger Sherman  Thomas Jefferson

27. Where did it all take place? This is a replica of the Graff house where Jefferson wrote the majority of the 1 st draft of the Declaration of Independence. The original building (at this location) was destroyed in 1888.

28. What did it look like? Who wrote the first draft?

29. Inspiration for the Declaration  Drew ideas from English Philosopher John Locke  Locke wrote that people were born with certain natural rights to life, liberty, and property; that people formed governments to protect these rights; and that government interfering with these rights might rightfully be over thrown

30. APPROVED!  Approved Lee’s Resolution July 2, 1776  Approved the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776 after some changes

31. Who signed it first? President of the Congress

32. Parts of the Declaration  1-Preamble-Intro  2-Rights Colonists should have  3-Complaints against England  4-Proclaims the existence of a New Nation

33. “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.”