Title: Declaring Independence Essential Question: What people and events contributed to the Second Continental Congress declaring independence?

 Second Continental Congress  Meeting of delegates from all 13 colonies in Philadelphia that began in May 1775 Independence Hall

 Important delegates:  John Hancock of Massachusetts  President of the Second Continental Congress  First and largest signature on the Declaration of Independence

 John Adams of Massachusetts  Made influential speeches  Helped convince delegates to declare independence  “Voice of the Revolution”

 Wife = Abigail  Their letters provide detailed descriptions of events of the Revolution 512 pages

 Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania  Tried to negotiate a peaceful solution between Britain and the colonies  Became a strong supporter of the Patriot cause

 Patrick Henry of Virginia  Early supporter of independence  Famous quotation:  “Give me liberty or give me death!”

 Famous quotation:  “Give me liberty or give me death!”  Thomas Jefferson of Virginia  2 nd youngest delegate

 George Washington of Virginia  Wealthy plantation owner  Military experience from the French and Indian War

 Bunker Hill (June 1775)  Hill that overlooks Boston Harbor  Defended by Minutemen who were low on ammunition

 Famous quotation by Colonel William Prescott:  “Do not fire until you see the whites of their eyes.”

 British victory  Minutemen had to withdraw when they ran out of ammunition

 British suffered high casualties  Over 1000 = 1/3 of their forces in Boston  Proved that the colonists could fight

 Continental Army  Name of the American army during the Revolutionary War  Continental Congress chose George Washington as commander

Henry Knox

 Continental Congress chose George Washington as commander  Olive Branch Petition (July 1775)  Last attempt by the Second Continental Congress to reconcile with England and avoid full-scale war John Dickinson

 Last attempt by the Second Continental Congress to reconcile with England and avoid full-scale war  Rejected by the king

 Rejected by the King  Thomas Paine  Moved to Philadelphia from England in 1774  Wrote Common Sense (1776)

 Influential pamphlet  Encouraged the colonies to declare independence  Written in simple language Statue in his hometown (Thetford, England)

 Written in simple language  Independence  Committee of Five  Appointed on June 11, 1776  Job was to draft a formal declaration of independence

 Members:  Benjamin Franklin  John Adams  Robert Livingston  Roger Sherman  Thomas Jefferson

 Roger Sherman  Thomas Jefferson  Second Continental Congress voted to declare independence on July 2, 1776  Declaration of Independence  Written by Thomas Jefferson  “Pen of the Revolution”

 Written by Thomas Jefferson  “Pen of the Revolution”  Influenced by the ideas of John Locke

 Approved on July 4, 1776

 Began signing the Declaration on August 2, 1776