 May 10, 1775 the Second Continental Congress assembled for the first time.  Despite the fighting at Lexington and Concord they still were not prepared to break away from Great Britain.

The delegates included some of the greatest political leaders in America – John and Samuel Adams – Patrick Henry – Richard Henry Lee – George Washington – Benjamin Franklin – John Hancock – Thomas Jefferson

 He is most remembered for….  Electricity Postmaster

Bifocals Franklin Stove Facilitated the first Fire Departments in the U.S.A

President of the 2nd Continental Congress, and Leader of the Sons of Liberty

Only 32 when the Congress began, had already acquired a reputation as a brilliant thinker and writer. Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses

1. Began to govern the colonies 2. Authorized the printing of money 3. Set up a post office with Franklin in charge. 4. Established committees to communicate with Native Americans and with other countries.

 Most importantly:  The Congress created the Continental Army to fight against Britain in a more organized way than the colonial militias could.  They unanimously chose George Washington to be the army’s commander.

 After Washington left to take charge of the colonial forces in Boston, the colonists offered Britain one last chance to avoid all- out war.

In July the Congress sent a petition, or formal request, to George III. Called the Olive Branch Petition it assured the King of the colonists’ desire for peace. – It asked the king to protect the colonists’ rights – George III refused to receive the petition. – Instead he prepared for war, hiring more than 30,000 German troops to send to America and fight beside British troops.

 The Colonists learned that the British were planning on invading New York through Canada.  The Americans decided to strike first  They captured Montreal, but failed to capture Quebec.

 Washington reached Boston and realized that while the colonies had a lot of soldiers they were untrained, lacked discipline, organization and leadership.

 In March 1776, Washington formed a semicircle around Boston and gave the order for its cannon to bombard the British forces.  The redcoats under Sir William Howe, hurriedly withdrew from the city and boarded their ships, and sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

 Some Americans still hoped to avoid a complete break with Britain  The Patriot cause, however, was growing strong.

 In January 1776, Thomas Paine published a pamphlet called Common Sense that captured the attention of the American colonists.  Called for complete independence from Britain.  Simply “Common Sense” to stop following the “royal brute” King George III.  Paine told the colonists their cause was not just a squabble over taxes but a struggle for freedom.

 At the Second Continental Congress the delegates were furiously debating whether or not the colonies should declare themselves an independent nation, or should they stay under British control.  What would be the effects of them declaring themselves independent?

 Richard Henry Lee presented a resolution which the Congress debated furiously….  “That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States…and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”  Richard Henry Lee

 The delegates chose a committee to draft a Declaration of Independence.  Jefferson was selected to write the document.  Drew on ideas from English philosophers such as John Locke. Locke wrote that people were born with certain natural rights to life, liverty, and property. That people fromed governments to protect these rights, and that a government interfering with these rights might rightfully be overthrown.

 Congress finally voted on Lee’s resolution for indepndence.  12 Colonies voted for it.  New York did not vote but later announced its support.  They made some changed to the Declaration of Independence.  Then signed it.

 John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence.  Remarked that he wrote his name large enough for King George to read it without his glasses.  Eventually 56 people signed the document.  What could happen to these men? Why were they so hesitant? Why is John Hancock’s signature so bold?

 Once it was signed we became a new nation.  Copies of the declaration went out to the newly declared states.  Washington read it to his troops on July 9.  In N.Y. American soldiers tore down a statue of George III in celebration.

 Has 4 major sections  The Preamble: Introduction  States that people who wish to form a new country should explain their reasons for doing so.

 The Second Part of the Declaration of Independence is the Declaration of Natural Rights  Lists the rights of the citizens, and that it is the government’s duty to protect these rights.

 The 3 rd part is the List of Grievances.  It lists the colonists’ complaints against Britain.  Especially singles out King George III

 The Fourth part is the Resolution.  Declares that the colonies are “Free and Independent States” with the full power to make war, to form alliances, and to trade with other countries.

 “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”