Background Info-1 st Continental Congress After Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts, life got harder for colonists in Boston. Boston Harbor was

Background Info-1Background Info-1stst Continental CongressContinental Congress

After Parliament passed the Intolerable After Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts, life got harder for colonists in Boston.Acts, life got harder for colonists in Boston.

Boston Harbor was closed, so shipments Boston Harbor was closed, so shipments of food could not be delivered. Boston of food could not be delivered. Boston asked for help, and other colonies asked for help, and other colonies transported goods to Massachusetts.transported goods to Massachusetts.

The colonies decided to come together The colonies decided to come together and discuss problems with England.and discuss problems with England.

1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS1ST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

When & Where Did the When & Where Did the Congress Meet?Congress Meet?

The First Continental Congress met The First Continental Congress met September 5 – October 26, 1774.September 5 – October 26, 1774.

They met in Philadelphia, PA at They met in Philadelphia, PA at Carpenter’s Hall.Carpenter’s Hall.


Purpose of the CongressPurpose of the Congress Colony leaders wanted to appear unified in Colony leaders wanted to appear unified in

their response to England, so their response to England, so representatives from each colony (except representatives from each colony (except Georgia) met.Georgia) met.

Three objectives:Three objectives: to compose a statement of colonial rightsto compose a statement of colonial rights to identify Parliament’s violation of those rightsto identify Parliament’s violation of those rights to provide a plan that would convince Britain to to provide a plan that would convince Britain to

restore those rights peacefully.restore those rights peacefully.


Purpose of the Congress Purpose of the Congress (Cont’d)(Cont’d)

The purpose of the First Continental Congress The purpose of the First Continental Congress was NOT to declare independence.was NOT to declare independence.

Many different viewpoints were represented – Many different viewpoints were represented – some colony leaders really wanted a solution some colony leaders really wanted a solution to conflicts with Britain and a chance to stand to conflicts with Britain and a chance to stand up for the colonists’ rights. Others wanted to up for the colonists’ rights. Others wanted to find a way to break away completely.find a way to break away completely.

Colonists especially wanted to address the Colonists especially wanted to address the violation of their rights and problems caused by violation of their rights and problems caused by the Intolerable Acts peacefully.the Intolerable Acts peacefully.


Who Was Involved?Who Was Involved?

Delegates (representatives) were elected Delegates (representatives) were elected from each colony except Georgia.from each colony except Georgia.

56 delegates that represented every 56 delegates that represented every colony (except Georgia) met.colony (except Georgia) met.

Famous leaders, such as Samuel Famous leaders, such as Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and George Adams, Patrick Henry, and George Washington were delegates.Washington were delegates.


What Was Accomplished?What Was Accomplished? Delegates created a statement of rights in Delegates created a statement of rights in

the form of a the form of a petitionpetition – the “Declaration and – the “Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress.”Resolves of the First Continental Congress.”

Delegates declared the Intolerable Acts Delegates declared the Intolerable Acts illegal and agreed to boycott trade with illegal and agreed to boycott trade with Britain.Britain.

Delegates created the “Continental Delegates created the “Continental Association” to enforce the boycott and Association” to enforce the boycott and provide leadership to the colonies.provide leadership to the colonies.

Delegates also discussed the need to train Delegates also discussed the need to train local militia. local militia.


Next Steps?Next Steps?

The petition was sent to England.The petition was sent to England. The Congress agreed to meet again on The Congress agreed to meet again on

May 10, 1775 if the King and Parliament May 10, 1775 if the King and Parliament did not respond to their petition.did not respond to their petition.


Declaration and Resolves Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental of the First Continental CongressCongress

That the [people] of the English colonies in That the [people] of the English colonies in North America, by the laws of nature, the North America, by the laws of nature, the principles of the English constitution, and principles of the English constitution, and the several charters or compacts, have the the several charters or compacts, have the following RIGHTS:following RIGHTS:


Resolved…Resolved…

That they are entitled to That they are entitled to life, liberty, and property.life, liberty, and property.


What Does It Mean?What Does It Mean?

Colonists have natural Colonists have natural rights that include life, rights that include life, freedom, and property.freedom, and property.



That the foundation of English liberty, and of That the foundation of English liberty, and of all free government, is a right in the people to all free government, is a right in the people to participate in their legislative council: and as participate in their legislative council: and as the English colonists are not represented, the English colonists are not represented, and from their local and other circumstances, and from their local and other circumstances, cannot properly be represented in the British cannot properly be represented in the British parliament, they are entitled to a free and parliament, they are entitled to a free and exclusive power of legislation in their several exclusive power of legislation in their several provincial legislatures, where their right of provincial legislatures, where their right of representation can alone be preserved, in all representation can alone be preserved, in all cases of taxation and internal polity [civil cases of taxation and internal polity [civil order, or organized government].order, or organized government].


What Does It Mean?What Does It Mean? The foundation of freedom and free The foundation of freedom and free

government is the right to government is the right to representative government. Since the representative government. Since the colonists are not represented in colonists are not represented in Parliament, the power of legislation in Parliament, the power of legislation in all matters of government and all matters of government and taxation belong to the colonial taxation belong to the colonial legislatures.legislatures.



That they have a right peaceably That they have a right peaceably to assemble, consider of their to assemble, consider of their grievances, and petition the king; grievances, and petition the king; and that all prosecutions, and that all prosecutions, prohibitory proclamations, and prohibitory proclamations, and commitments for the same, are commitments for the same, are illegal.illegal.



The colonists have a right to meet The colonists have a right to meet together, talk about their together, talk about their grievances, and petition their grievances, and petition their king. Any laws or arrests that king. Any laws or arrests that violate those rights are illegal.violate those rights are illegal.



That the keeping of a standing That the keeping of a standing army in these colonies, in times of army in these colonies, in times of peace, without the consent of the peace, without the consent of the legislature of that colony, in which legislature of that colony, in which such army is kept, is against law.such army is kept, is against law.



It is against the law for Britain to It is against the law for Britain to keep an army in any colony in keep an army in any colony in times of peace without the times of peace without the approval of the legislature of that approval of the legislature of that colony.colony.


The Second Continental The Second Continental CongressCongress

Who?Who? John AdamsJohn Adams Samuel AdamsSamuel Adams Patrick HenryPatrick Henry Richard Henry LeeRichard Henry Lee George WashingtonGeorge Washington Ben FranklinBen Franklin Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson John HancockJohn Hancock All delegates of the First Continental CongressAll delegates of the First Continental Congress

The Second Continental The Second Continental Congress Continued…Congress Continued…

What did it do?What did it do? Authorized the printing of moneyAuthorized the printing of money Set up a post office with Franklin in chargeSet up a post office with Franklin in charge Established committees to communicate with the Established committees to communicate with the

Native Americans and other countriesNative Americans and other countries Organized the Continental Army to fight against Organized the Continental Army to fight against

Britain in an organized wayBritain in an organized way Unanimously chose George Washington to be the army’s Unanimously chose George Washington to be the army’s

General Commander and Chief General Commander and Chief

The Olive Branch PetitionThe Olive Branch Petition

Second Continental Congress gave the British Second Continental Congress gave the British one final chance to avoid all out warone final chance to avoid all out war

This PETITION assured the king of the This PETITION assured the king of the colonists desire for peacecolonists desire for peace

Asked for him to protect the colonists rightsAsked for him to protect the colonists rights King George III denied the Olive Branch King George III denied the Olive Branch

PetitionPetition Hired 30,000 German troops to send to AmericaHired 30,000 German troops to send to America

Possibly no other writer than Thomas Paine did more to inspire Americans

to obtain their independence from Great Britain and to strive to spread the

principles of the American

Revolution to Europe.

In January 1776, he published his

47-page pamphlet,

Common Sense.

Thomas Paine’s Common Thomas Paine’s Common SenseSense

Captured the attention of the ColonistsCaptured the attention of the Colonists Paine called for complete independence Paine called for complete independence

from Britainfrom Britain Argued that it was simply “Common Argued that it was simply “Common

Sense” to stop following the “Royal Sense” to stop following the “Royal Brute” King George IIIBrute” King George III

Common Sense INSPIRED AmericansCommon Sense INSPIRED Americans

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the services of their country; but he that stands it NOW deserves the love and thanks

of man and woman." (The American Crisis, 1776)

"The period of debate is closed. Arms, as a last resource, must decide the contest.“(Common Sense,

1776)

"Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a

necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one." (Common Sense, 1776)

Famous Quotes:

Declaring IndependenceDeclaring Independence Colonies needed to make a decision, Colonies needed to make a decision, Should they Should they

declare themselves an independent nation? Or declare themselves an independent nation? Or should they stay under British rule?should they stay under British rule?

Virginia’s Richard Henry Lee proposed a Virginia’s Richard Henry Lee proposed a resolution : resolution : “That these United Colonies are, “That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent and of right ought to be, free and independent States…and that all political connection States…and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be totally dissolved.”and ought to be totally dissolved.”

As the Resolution was debated, Thomas Jefferson As the Resolution was debated, Thomas Jefferson was selected to draft a Declaration of was selected to draft a Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

independence : independence : ((n)n)the freedom to govern the freedom to govern

on one’s own.on one’s own.

declaration : (n)an official statement

Who was involved?Who was involved?

Benjamin Benjamin FranklinFranklin

John AdamsJohn Adams Robert R. Robert R.

LivingstonLivingston Roger ShermanRoger Sherman Thomas Thomas

JeffersonJefferson

Where did it all take Where did it all take place?place?

This is a replica of This is a replica of the Graff house the Graff house where Jefferson where Jefferson wrote the majority wrote the majority of the 1of the 1stst draft of draft of the Declaration of the Declaration of Independence. Independence. The original The original building (at this building (at this location) was location) was destroyed in destroyed in 1888.1888.

What did What did it look it look like?like?

Who wrote the first draft?

Inspiration for the Inspiration for the DeclarationDeclaration

Drew ideas from English Philosopher Drew ideas from English Philosopher John LockeJohn Locke

Locke wrote that Locke wrote that people were born with people were born with certain natural rights to life, liberty, certain natural rights to life, liberty, and propertyand property; that people formed ; that people formed governments to protect these rights; and governments to protect these rights; and that government interfering with these that government interfering with these rights might rightfully be over thrownrights might rightfully be over thrown

APPROVED!APPROVED!

Approved Lee’s Resolution July 2, 1776Approved Lee’s Resolution July 2, 1776 Approved the Declaration of Approved the Declaration of

Independence July 4, 1776 after some Independence July 4, 1776 after some changeschanges

Who Who signed it signed it first?first?

President of the Congress

Parts of the DeclarationParts of the Declaration

1-Preamble-Intro1-Preamble-Intro 2-Rights Colonists 2-Rights Colonists

should haveshould have 3-Complaints 3-Complaints

against Englandagainst England 4-Proclaims the 4-Proclaims the

existence of a New existence of a New NationNation

““We hold these truths to be self-We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are evident, that all men are

created equal, that they are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Documents

Background Info-1 st Continental Congress After Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts, life got harder for colonists in Boston. Boston Harbor was