Moving Toward Independence Chapter 5: Section 4

Second Continental Congress May 10, 1775 Began to govern the colonies Authorized the printing of money Set up a post office Continental Army Chose George Washington to be army commander

Olive Branch Petition Petition: Formal Request Assured the king of the colonists’ desire for peace and asked him to protect colonists’ rights King George III refused to receive the petition and prepared for war

Continental Army Lacked discipline, organization, and leadership George Washington began to train the army in July 1775 By March 1776, the Continental Army was ready to fight

Common Sense Support for independence was growing Thomas Paine’s Common Sense Called for complete independence Greatly influenced opinion throughout the colonies

The Colonies Declare Independence The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and began to draft the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson was selected to write the declaration July 2, 1776: Congress approves the resolution for independence July 4, 1776: Congress approves Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence Ideas from John Locke People are born with certain natural rights Life Liberty Property Government’s job is to protect these rights Any government that interferes with these rights can be overthrown

John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence Wrote his name large enough for King George III to read without his glasses 56 delegates eventually sign Copies of the Declaration went out to the newly declared states

The Declaration of Independence 4 major sections Preamble Rights that the colonists believe they should have Complaints against Britain The existence of the new nation Preamble: Introduction