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Moving Toward Independence

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Presentation on theme: "Moving Toward Independence"— Presentation transcript:

1 Moving Toward Independence
Chapter 5: Section 4

2 Second Continental Congress
May 10, 1775 Began to govern the colonies Authorized the printing of money Set up a post office Continental Army Chose George Washington to be army commander

3 Olive Branch Petition Petition: Formal Request
Assured the king of the colonists’ desire for peace and asked him to protect colonists’ rights King George III refused to receive the petition and prepared for war

4 Continental Army Lacked discipline, organization, and leadership
George Washington began to train the army in July 1775 By March 1776, the Continental Army was ready to fight

5 Common Sense Support for independence was growing
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense Called for complete independence Greatly influenced opinion throughout the colonies

6 The Colonies Declare Independence
The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and began to draft the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson was selected to write the declaration July 2, 1776: Congress approves the resolution for independence July 4, 1776: Congress approves Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence

7 Declaration of Independence
Ideas from John Locke People are born with certain natural rights Life Liberty Property Government’s job is to protect these rights Any government that interferes with these rights can be overthrown

8 John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence
Wrote his name large enough for King George III to read without his glasses 56 delegates eventually sign Copies of the Declaration went out to the newly declared states

9 The Declaration of Independence
4 major sections Preamble Rights that the colonists believe they should have Complaints against Britain The existence of the new nation Preamble: Introduction


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