4.2 Ideas Help Start a Revolution

OBJECTIVES:•Learn about the Continental Congress and increasing tensions between Britain and her Colonies.•Understand why Americans declared independence from Britain.

Second Continental Congress• Began by John Adams

• Appoints GeneralWashington head of Continental Congress

• Prints currency

• Sends Benjamin Franklin to France Why??

• ……………Battle of Bunker Hill

Battle of Bunker Hill•June 17, 1775•2,400 Redcoats•Britain lost over 1,000 men!•MORAL VICTORY!....why?

“Don’t shoot until you see the white in their eyes!” – General Prescott

Olive Branch Petition• July 8, 1775

• Not angry at King George III

• Who were they angry at?

• DENIED!!

• “Blockade the rebels!”

http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/period.htm

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•Written by Thomas Paine•47 page essay attacking the King and Parliament

George Washington owned his own copy!!

“I find Common Sense is working a powerful change in the minds of many men.”- G.W.

“Common Sense”“The nearer any government approaches to a republic the less

business there is for a king. It is somewhat difficult to find a

proper name for the government of England. Sir William Meredith

calls it a republic; but in its present state it is unworthy of the

name, because the corrupt influence of the crown, by having all

the places in its disposal, hath so effectively swallowed up the

power, and eaten out the virtue of the house of commons that the

government of England is nearly as monarchical as that of France

or Spain.”

Declaration of Independence• Continental Congress appoints

a committee to prepare a declaration

• Thomas Jefferson chosen to express declaration

• Draws on philosophy of the Enlightenment

• Ideas of John Locke, “natural rights”

• Right to resist tyranny

Declaration of IndependenceIt should be noted…1. Power is derived from the consent of the

governed = people2. King’s power is not a “divine right.”

Rather, the people have unalienable rights.

3. Original draft was rejected by South Carolina and Georgia because it attacked the slave trade.

4. The call for Equality was not originally meant to include women or minorities.

5. Second Continental Congress called for independence on July 2, 1776, and adopted the Declaration on July 4th.

Causes Ideas

Declaration of Independence

Results

Loyalists vs. PatriotsMaybe 1/3 of colonists were

loyalists

Loyalists were stronger in the South

Loyalists included members of King’s govt. in colonies, such as judges, governors, etc. AND many ordinary colonists.

Perhaps 1/3 to 1/2 of the colonists were patriots = calling for independence.

Patriots tended to come from those who wanted more economic independence.

*Many Americans tried to stay neutral, esp. Quakers.

African-Americans fought on both sides.

Native Americans tended to side with the British.

Compare and Contrast Loyalists and Patriots

Terms

• Second Continental Congress• Olive Branch Petition• Common Sense• Thomas Jefferson• Declaration of Independence• Patriot• Loyalist