4.2

Explain why fighting broke out to begin the American Revolution and the response of the Second Continental Congress. Describe the Loyalist’s view of the Patriots Analyze the impact of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense Assess why Congress declared independence and the ideas underlying the Declaration of Independence.

War Begins Patriots and Loyalists Disagree Opinion Swings Toward Independence

On April 19, 1775, war erupted at Lexington and Concord. These were two country towns west of Boston. General Thomas Gage provoked the battles by sending troops to arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams in Lexington. Also to seize the stockpiled weapons in Concord.

Tipped off by men, including Paul Revere. (Who had ridden into the countryside to warn the locals of the approaching British troops. The local Patriots rallied to drive the troops back to Boston, the Patriot fighters were militia. These were full time farmers and part-time soldiers.

By morning about 70 Patriots had gathered on the Lexington Green to face the British soldiers. Eight Patriots died in this skirmish and the rest of them retreated back. The British troops began their march back to Boston, on the way back they were stunned. Hundreds of minutemen lined the road behind trees and began shooting the British soldiers and ended up killing 200 of them.

Stunned and exhausted the British reached the safety of Boston in the late afternoon. Thousands of other minutemen rushed to confine the British to Boston and the loyalist that followed them. This allowed the Patriots control of all of the New England colonies.

May 1775 delegates from all the colonies assembled in Philadelphia for the Second Continental Congress. To the relief of the New Englanders, Congress assumed responsibility for the war. Armed volunteers from the Middle and Southern colonies marched north to join the Patriot siege of Boston. Congress gave George Washington command of the new Continental Army.

Some radical members of the Continental Congress wanted to declare American independence from Britain. Most colonists still wanted to be under the British Empire but just not pay the taxes. Congress sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George III. Saying the colonist were still loyal to the King but not Parliament. (King rejected and sent more troops to Boston)

Patriots wanted to be self governed completely independent from Britain. Loyalists wanted to still be under the rule of the King but just not pay taxes. Patriots were viewed as reckless and illegal and doomed to fail. Loyalist feared disorder and death.

In January 1776 a short but powerful book swung popular opinion in the colonies in favor of independence. Thomas Paine, a recent immigrant from England wrote the book called “Common Sense.” His book was in favor of common people electing their own representatives in an appropriate form of government. The book depicted the King as a sole enemy to their liberty and Parliament as a parasite.

Based on Thomas Paine’s theme Congress assembled a committee to draft an American Independence Document. On July 2, 1776 Congress voted that America was free. Two days later they approved the Declaration of Independence that was drafted by Thomas Jefferson.