The Road to Revolution Declaring Independence. Met in Philadelphia beginning in May 1775 Formed...

The Road to RevolutionThe Road to RevolutionDeclaring IndependenceDeclaring Independence

Met in Philadelphia beginning in May 1775

Formed Continental Army• Washington chosen to lead

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

Second Continental Congress

Battle of Bunker Hill

Tension was brewing in Boston 1775

Colonial militia had seized Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill and fortified Breed’s Hill

Actually fought on Breed’s Hill

Battle of Bunker Hill William PrescottWilliam Prescott, “Don’t , “Don’t

Fire until you see the Fire until you see the whites of their eyes”whites of their eyes”

Dr. James WarrenDr. James Warren, , member of the Sons of member of the Sons of Liberty, 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 world’s most the world’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 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 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 Paine’sThomas Paine’s “ “Common SenseCommon Sense””

• In 1776 most colonists wanted to avoid complete break with England

• Paine ridiculed the “Divine 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) 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 Adams

Robert LivingstonRobert Livingston John AdamsJohn Adams

Benjamin Benjamin 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

• Based on Natural Rights philosophy of John Locke

• “Unalienable Rights”– Life, liberty, and pursuit of

happiness

• July 4, 1776 – Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence

• John Hancock, president of the congress was the first to sign

Declaring Independence

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, of right ought to be

free and independent states…”