Continental Congress

A presentation by Samuel Rier

The First Continental Congress Background

• Occurred in Carpenters’ Hall Philadelphia• 12 of the 13 colonies sent delegates (Georgia

didn’t because they were facing attack on their borders and needed help from British Soldiers)

• 56 Delegates in Total• Occurs following the Boston Tea Party• Many delegates were unfamiliar with each

other

Carpenter Hall

Issues Debated in the First Continental Congress

• How to Address the intolerable acts• The Colonists take on taxation without

representation• Whether Massachusetts should start

stockpiling weapons in case of a War

What the First Continental Congress Looked Like

A Plan of Union of Great Britain and the Colonies

– Joseph Galloway proposed a plan of union that formed a peaceful solution to the rising tension

– This would include colonial representation in England while remaining loyal

– Delagates rejected this and accepted The Suffolk Resolves instead

Continental Association

• Was Created in an effort to boycott all British Goods

• Delegates hoped it would repeal the intolerable Acts

• The Patriots were willing to do this for liberty and justice for the colonies

The Suffolk Resolves

• Proposed by Dr. Joseph Warren• Encouraged Massachusetts to protest the

Intolerable Acts by stock piling on weapons, operating its own government, boycotting British Goods, and no longer announcing allegiance to Britain

• Results were bipolar in colonies

Declaration of Rights

• More peaceful than the Suffolk Resolves

• Declared rights such as life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, the right to establish their own taxes, outlined reasons for rebellion, and unjust taxation without representation

The Second Continental Congress

• Followed the Battle of Lexington and Concord

• The Continental Congress were faced with many new issues that they needed to assess

• All Thirteen Colonies sought a solution

Independence Hall

Issues Faced

• How Would the U.S. Address the Military of the British following their attack

• Addressed the English King’s statement that the colonies were rebelling

• How do get a common decision from many different opinions towards independence from delegates

• How to Finance the War• Who could lead them

British Military Threat

• Following the battles of Lexington and Concord there needed to be a colonial military to fight back

• Formed the Continental Army • Appointed George Washington

as general • Supplemented by local militias

Financing the War

• Congress issued Continentals to finance the war

• 2 million dollars of it were distributed

• Little fiscal value• Soldiers were paid in it

Varying ideas from Delagates

• Many Delagates viewed that rebelling against the British were unlikely

• Richard Henry Lee of Virginia presented a tree part resolution that explained the reasons for independence

• Following much delay and debate from the thirteen colonies, The Declaration of Independence was drafted

The Declaration of Independence Drafting

• A committee of five were appointed to draft the document

• These included John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Robert R. Livingston of New York, and Roger Sherman of Connecticut

• Jefferson wrote the first draft

The Declaration of Independence Drafting cont.

• Following the first draft congress spent two days revising it

• Removed a part that promoted the abolition of slavery

• Also revised to appease those in Britain who supported the revolution

• Finally approved on July 2, announced on July 4

Preamble

• This mentions the general philosophy of government that justifies the revolution due to the British Government harming their rights

• All men are created equal• Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Indictment

• The important part of the entire document• Lengthy list of crimes the king hath committed• When there is a long line of abuses and

usurpations it is the right of the people to throw out that government

• The history of Britain is one of repeated law breaking

Conclusion

• The Delagates assert that in this situation the government must be changed and that through this they are now independent and have severed ties with the crown.

• Are now independent states• This contains the Lee Resolution