1. THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION The Continental Congress The Declaration of Independence

2. RECAP  After the French and Indian War, the British raised taxes in the colonies to re-pay debt  These new taxes angered the colonist; no more salutary neglect  Colonist began protesting theses taxes  All the colonies join together in the First Continental Congress

3. The First Continental Congress  The First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia, PA- 1774  Delegates from each colony attended (except GA)  The goals of the meeting were unclear

4. The First Continental Congress continued…  Delegates were divided on independence  Issued the Declaration and Resolves; stated the grievances of the colonies

5. After the First Continental Congress…  Colonist continue to boycott  Colonist begin to make military preparations and store weapons

6. Battles of Lexington and Concord  British hear of a colonial stockpile of weapons in Concord  The militia or “minutemen” had already been notified and prepare for attack  Notified by men like Paul Revere  “Shot heard round the World” was fired near Lexington; start of the Revolution  Militia forced to fall back

7. Battles of Lexington and Concord continued…  British continued to march to Concord  Militia opened fire on the British; many officers were wounded  British forces retreat  Hit and Run ambushes all the way back to Boston

8. The Second Continental Congress  Another series of meetings in Philadelphia- 1775  Divided beliefs- independence vs. remaining loyal  Adopted the Olive Branch Petition- final plea to King George to avoid full war; King George refused  Created a Continental Army; Selected George Washington as leader  Wrote the Declaration of Independence  Adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776

9. The Declaration of Independence

10.  Voted for Independence July 2, 1776 declaration proposed 2 days later  Written largely by Thomas Jefferson  Parts of the Declaration  Preamble  Declaration of Rights  List of Grievances  Resolution by the United States

11. Where did these ideas come from?  Many ideas from the Declaration stemmed from the Enlightenment  Enlightenment- European intellectual movement of emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition

12. Enlightenment Philosophers  Montesquieu- Powers of Gov’t should be separated & power should be balanced ; checks and balances  John Locke- Purpose of government is to protect natural rights; LIFE, LIBERTY, PROPERTY  Thomas Hobbes- Social Contract Theory (the consent of the governed)- People agree to give up some freedom in exchange for protection and security

13. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense  Writing that challenged the authority of the British Government  Spoke in plain language to common people of America  First work that spoke openly about American Independence

14. The Declaration of Independence