The Road to RevolutionThe Road to RevolutionDeclaring IndependenceDeclaring Independence

Attack on Fort Ticonderoga

• Ethan Allen and

Green Mountain

Boys

• Attack fort on New

York side of Lake York side of Lake

Champlain

• Captured the fort and

large amount of

artillery that is sent

to aid colonial

resistance in Boston

� Met in Philadelphia

beginning in May 1775

� Formed Continental Army

• Washington chosen to lead

Second Continental Congress

� Washington showed up in his military uniform

� Tallest man at convention – he looked the part

� Authorized printing of

paper money to pay troops� Representatives to the

meeting were beginning to act like a government

Battle of Bunker Hill

� Tension was

brewing in Boston

1775

� Colonial militia had

seized Bunker Hillseized Bunker Hill

and Breed’’’’s Hill and fortified

Breed’’’’s Hill

� Actually fought on

Breed’’’’s Hill

Battle of Bunker Hill�� William PrescottWilliam Prescott, , ““““““““DonDon’’’’’’’’t t

Fire until you see the Fire until you see the

whites of their eyeswhites of their eyes””””””””

�� Dr. James WarrenDr. James Warren, ,

member of the Sons of member of the Sons of

Liberty, was killedLiberty, was killedLiberty, was killedLiberty, was killed

�� English win battle at English win battle at

huge costhuge cost (1,000 killed or (1,000 killed or

wounded)wounded)

•• Colonial militia was Colonial militia was

holding its own against holding its own against

the worldthe world’’’’’’’’s most s most powerful army.powerful army.

Offering an Olive Branch• July 1775 Moderate

members of the

congress drafted the

Olive Branch Petition

– Asked the King to restore harmony between England and the coloniesEngland and the colonies

• The king rejected the

offer and sought new

ways to punish the

colonies

– Blocked colonial ports and hired German Hessians to fight in colonies

Siege of BostonSiege of Boston •• Continental Army Continental Army

surrounded the British surrounded the British

in Bostonin Boston

•• WashingtonWashington had had

artilleryartillery capture at Fort capture at Fort

Ticonderoga moved to Ticonderoga moved to

Dorchester HeightsDorchester HeightsDorchester HeightsDorchester Heights

overlooking Bostonoverlooking Boston

•• The Continental Army The Continental Army

controlled the high controlled the high

ground and threatened ground and threatened

to bombard the Cityto bombard the City

•• British British General Howe General Howe

withdrew his troopswithdrew his troops

Thomas PaineThomas Paine’’’’’’’’ss““““““““Common SenseCommon Sense””””””””• In 1776 most colonists

wanted to avoid complete

break with England

• Paine ridiculed the ““““Divine

Right of Kings and Right of Kings”””” and disagreed with economic

reasons for remaining with

England

• Common Sense caused

more colonists to embrace

the idea of independence

from England

Declaring Independence• May 1776 Second

Continental Congress

adopted resolution

authorizing each colony to

create its own government

• Richard Henry Lee (VA) • Richard Henry Lee (VA)

introduced a resolution

saying that the colonies

“are and of right ought to be free and independent

states”

• Appointed a committee to

draft a declaration of

independence

Committee that

drafted the Declaration

John AdamsJohn AdamsBenjamin Benjamin FranklinFranklin

Robert LivingstonRobert Livingston John AdamsJohn Adams

FranklinFranklin

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson Roger ShermanRoger Sherman

The Writing of the Declaration of Independence

• Thomas Jefferson was chosen

to write the declaration

– Excellent writer

– From Virginia

• July 4, 1776 – Congress

adopted the Declaration of

Independence

Declaring Independence

• Based on Natural Rights

philosophy of John Locke

• ““““Unalienable Rights””””

– Life, liberty, and pursuit of

happiness

• John Hancock, president of the

congress was the first to sign

The Declaration in Five Parts

• Preamble– ““““When in the Course of Human events…””””

• The Rights of the People– ““““…We hold these truths to be self evident…””””

• List of Grievances– ““““…He has refused his assent to laws…for the

public good…””””

• Efforts to avoid separation– ““““…We have petitioned for a redress of grievances

in the most humblest terms…””””

• Independence Declared– ““““…These united colonies are, and of right ought

to be free and independent states…””””

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to

assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God

entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel

them to the separation.