1 st /2 nd Continental Congress, Lexington & Concord, Push for Independence

1 st Continental Congress 1774 Met in response to Intolerable Acts 2 questions- What are our rights? How should we defend them? Some favor boycott, but it is obviously problematic (smuggling)‏ Make it illegal to buy or drink British tea, no British imports (Non-Importation Agreement)‏ Committees of Correspondence to enforce

Committees Allowed to inspect customs houses Publish names of violators in newspapers Blacklisted (shamed, harassed, etc.)‏ Avoid mobs Almost every colony had a committee

Lexington and Concord 1775 British are having a rough time in Boston Militia is forming all over Mass. Asks King George III to send 20,000 troops and to suspend the Acts King wants him to react immediately Goal- seize leaders and munitions supply in Concord.

Lexington and Concord (Cont.)‏ Poor plan by British- land in marshes Intricate warning system- Spy network- Paul Revere & others Troops must march through Lexington Met by 150 militia men- “shot heard ‘round the world” 8 militia dead, 11 wounded

Impact of Lexington & Concord No longer secretive- troops to Concord Find nothing- march all the way back through and get picked off the whole way- 273 British killed and wounded- 95 colonists dead Awakens rest of MA, converge on Boston

2 nd Continental Congress (1775-6)‏ Not all believe in independence New faces- Franklin, Hancock, Jefferson Reconciliation vs. Independence John Dickinson- urges a petition to King George III John Adams- urges independence, “England is too corrupt” Nominate George Washington to lead army

2 nd Continental Congress (Cont.)‏ Meanwhile, Continental Army is unorganized and undisciplined Bunker Hill- some success, but every American death makes it harder for people to accept reconciliation Radicals and Moderates in Congress Moderates write Olive Branch Petition 1) cease fire in Boston- 2) George III repeal Acts- 3) George III to define colonial rights Radicals and Adams are angry

Move Toward Independence George III sees Olive Branch as a joke when he learns of the events of 1775 Declares colonies in a state of rebellion “ put colonies in their place” Colonies start to bond- enter Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” Jan very popular and widely read Convinces people that reconciliation was not possible. It is ‘common sense’ to rebel.

Move Toward Independence (Cont.)‏ Up to John Adams Adams plan- 1) organize colonial govts. 2) define colonial congress 3) gain foreign recognition (France and Spain)‏ 4) push for independence Disarm loyalists, trade with other countries and tell moderates “join or step aside” It works, by end of June 1776 a committee is established to write a declaration

Declaration of Independence Jefferson gets chosen to write it Never intended to be original-wanted to express American mind July 2, 1776 draft introduced to Congress- Passed on July 4 Dickinson refused to sign it. Time for full-blown war