1. Colonial Leaders Emerge

2. Second Continental Congress
John and Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and George Washington – First Continental Congress
Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson
The Second Continental Congress
Began to govern colonies, printing of money, set up post office, committees to communicate with Indians, Continental Army (George Washington as commander)

3. One Last Chance
The delegates offered Britain one last chance to avoid all-out war.
In July the Congress sent a petition, or formal request, to George III- Olive Branch Petition
Assured the king of the colonists’ desire for peace. Asked the king to protect the colonists’ rights, which Parliament destroyed.
King George III refused to receive the petition.
He prepared for war.

4. The Colonies Take Offensive
Congress learned the British were stationed in Canada and planned to invade New York.
Americans wanted to strike first.
Loyalists- those who chose to stay with Britain
Patriots- wanted American independence

5. Patriots captured Montreal in November
Washington reached Boston in July militia was growing and needed training
In March 1776 the army was ready to bombard the British forces- forced the British out of Boston

6. Thomas Paine
January 1776 Thomas Paine published a pamphlet called Common Sense.
The pamphlet called for complete independence from Britain.
“common sense” to stop following the “royal brute,” King George III. Paine told colonist their cause was not a squabble over taxes but a struggle for freedom-”in a great measure the cause of all mankind.”

7. The Colonies Declare Independence
Congress choose a committee to draft the Declaration of Independence
Jefferson was selected to write the declaration
Jefferson used ideas from John Locke
July 4, 1776 document was approved
John Hancock, the president of Congress, was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence
56 delegates signed the document

8. Declaration of Independence
4 major sections
Preamble- introduction, states that people who wish to form a new country should explain their reasons for doing so.
The next two sections- list the rights the colonists believed they should have and their complaints against Britain.
Final section- proclaims the existence of the new nation.

9. “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.””
The Declaration states that gov’t exists to protect these rights. If it does not, it goes on to state that “it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it and to institute new Government.”

10. Declaration lists many grievances Americans held against the king and Parliament.
cutting off trade with all parts of the world
imposing taxes without consent
Declaration ends by announcing America’s new status. Now pledging, “to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor,” the Americas declared themselves a new nation.
The American Revolution had begun.