Road to Road to IndependenceIndependence

Moving Toward Moving Toward IndependenceIndependence

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Colonial Leaders EmergeColonial Leaders Emerge On May 10, 1775, the On May 10, 1775, the Second Second

Continental CongressContinental Congress met for the first met for the first time. time.

This meeting included many great political This meeting included many great political leaders in America: John Jay, John and Sam leaders in America: John Jay, John and Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Thomas JeffersonJohn Hancock, and Thomas Jefferson

Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin represented the colonies represented the colonies in London during the Stamp Act Crisis, and in London during the Stamp Act Crisis, and helped secure the repeal of the act. helped secure the repeal of the act.

Colonial Leaders EmergeColonial Leaders Emerge The Second Continental Congress The Second Continental Congress

began to govern the colonies.began to govern the colonies. It authorized printing of money and set It authorized printing of money and set

up a post office with up a post office with FranklinFranklin in charge. in charge. It established committees to communicate It established committees to communicate

with Native Americans and with other with Native Americans and with other countries. countries.

It created a It created a Continental ArmyContinental Army to fight to fight against Britain in a more organized way against Britain in a more organized way than the colonial militias could.than the colonial militias could.

George WashingtonGeorge Washington was unanimously was unanimously voted as the commander.voted as the commander.

Colonial Leaders EmergeColonial Leaders Emerge The Congress sent a petition, or formal The Congress sent a petition, or formal

request, to George III giving him one last request, to George III giving him one last change to avoid all-out war.change to avoid all-out war.

This petition is called the This petition is called the Olive Branch Olive Branch PetitionPetition..

It assured the king of the colonist’s desire for It assured the king of the colonist’s desire for peace.peace.

It asked the king to protect the colonists’ rights.It asked the king to protect the colonists’ rights. King George III refused to receive the Olive Branch King George III refused to receive the Olive Branch

Petition and instead prepared for war. Petition and instead prepared for war. George III hired 30,000 German troops to send George III hired 30,000 German troops to send

to America to fight beside British troops. to America to fight beside British troops.

The Colonies Take the The Colonies Take the OffensiveOffensive

Congress learned that British troops Congress learned that British troops stationed in Canada were planning to stationed in Canada were planning to invade New York.invade New York.

The Americans decided to strike first and The Americans decided to strike first and marched north and captured marched north and captured MontrealMontreal..

In July 1775, Washington reached Boston, a In July 1775, Washington reached Boston, a few weeks after the Battle of Bunker Hill few weeks after the Battle of Bunker Hill and found the members of the militia and found the members of the militia growing in number every day.growing in number every day.

Washington realized the troops lacked Washington realized the troops lacked discipline, organization, and leadership so discipline, organization, and leadership so they began shaping them into an army.they began shaping them into an army.

The Colonies Take the The Colonies Take the OffensiveOffensive

By March 1776, Washington By March 1776, Washington judged the judged the Continental ArmyContinental Army ready to fight. ready to fight.

He placed them in a semi-circle He placed them in a semi-circle around Boston and gave the around Boston and gave the orders for its cannons to orders for its cannons to bombard the British forces. bombard the British forces.

The British withdrew for Boston. The British withdrew for Boston.

Moving Toward Moving Toward IndependenceIndependence

Some Americans still hoped to avoid a complete Some Americans still hoped to avoid a complete break With Britain, but support for absolute break With Britain, but support for absolute independence was growing. independence was growing.

In January 1776, In January 1776, Thomas PaineThomas Paine published a published a pamphlet called pamphlet called Common SenseCommon Sense that that captured the attention of the American captured the attention of the American colonists.colonists.

Paine called for complete independence from Paine called for complete independence from Britain. Britain.

He argued that it was “common sense” to stop He argued that it was “common sense” to stop following the “royal brute,” King George III.following the “royal brute,” King George III.

Paine explained the cause was not just a squabble Paine explained the cause was not just a squabble over taxes, but a struggle for freedom.over taxes, but a struggle for freedom.

Common Sense inspired thousands of Americans. Common Sense inspired thousands of Americans.

The Colonies Declared The Colonies Declared IndependenceIndependence

At the Second Continental Congress, one At the Second Continental Congress, one issue occupied the delegates: should the issue occupied the delegates: should the colonies declare themselves an colonies declare themselves an independent nation, or should they stay independent nation, or should they stay under British rule?under British rule?

While the delegates debated the issue, While the delegates debated the issue, the Congress chose a committee to draft the Congress chose a committee to draft a a Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence..

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson was selected to write it. was selected to write it. On July 2, 1776 the Congress approved a On July 2, 1776 the Congress approved a

resolution for independence proposed by resolution for independence proposed by Richard Henry Lee from Virginia. Richard Henry Lee from Virginia.

The Colonies Declared The Colonies Declared IndependenceIndependence

After some changes, the Congress After some changes, the Congress approved Jefferson’s draft of the approved Jefferson’s draft of the declaration of independence. declaration of independence.

John HancockJohn Hancock, the president of the , the president of the Congress, was first to sign and Congress, was first to sign and declared he wrote his name large declared he wrote his name large enough for King George to read it enough for King George to read it without his glasses. without his glasses.

Copies of the declaration were Copies of the declaration were sent to the newly declared states.sent to the newly declared states.

The Declaration of The Declaration of IndependenceIndependence The Declaration has 4 sections:The Declaration has 4 sections:

– PreamblePreamble, or introduction, states that , or introduction, states that people who wish to form a new country people who wish to form a new country should explain their reasons for doing so.should explain their reasons for doing so.

– Next two sections list the rights the Next two sections list the rights the colonists believed they should have and colonists believed they should have and their complaints against Britain.their complaints against Britain.

– The last, proclaimsThe last, proclaims the existence of the the existence of the new nation.new nation.

The Declaration states that government The Declaration states that government exists to protect rights and lists many exists to protect rights and lists many grievances Americans had against the king grievances Americans had against the king and Parliament.and Parliament.

The Declaration of The Declaration of IndependenceIndependence The crimes of George III included: The crimes of George III included:

– ““cutting off trade with all parts of the cutting off trade with all parts of the world.”world.”

– ““imposing taxes on us without our imposing taxes on us without our consent.”consent.”

The Declaration ends by announcing The Declaration ends by announcing Americans new status: Americans new status: a new nationa new nation..

The struggle for American The struggle for American independence – the independence – the American American RevolutionRevolution – had begun. – had begun.