1. Declaring Independence
The Road to Revolution
Declaring Independence

2. Second Continental Congress
Met in Philadelphia beginning in May 1775
Formed Continental Army
Washington chosen to lead
Washington showed up in his military uniform
Tallest man at convention – he looked the part
Authorized printing of paper money to pay troops
Representatives to the meeting were beginning to act like a government

5. Battle of Bunker Hill Tension was brewing in Boston 1775
Colonial militia had seized Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill and fortified Breed’s Hill
Actually fought on Breed’s Hill

6. Battle of Bunker Hill
William Prescott, “Don’t Fire until you see the whites of their eyes”
Dr. James Warren, member of the Sons of Liberty, was killed
English win battle at huge cost (1,000 killed or wounded)
Colonial militia was holding its own against the world’s most powerful army.

7. Offering an Olive Branch
July 1775 Moderate members of the congress drafted the Olive Branch Petition
Asked the King to restore harmony between England and the colonies
The king rejected the offer and sought new ways to punish the colonies
Blocked colonial ports and hired German Hessians to fight in colonies

8. Siege of Boston Continental Army surrounded the British in Boston
Washington had artillery capture at Fort Ticonderoga moved to Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
The Continental Army controlled the high ground and threatened to bombard the City
British General Howe withdrew his troops

9. Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”
In 1776 most colonists wanted to avoid complete break with England
Paine ridiculed the “Divine Right of Kings” and disagreed with economic reasons for remaining with England
Common Sense caused more colonists to embrace the idea of independence from England

10. Declaring Independence
May 1776 Second Continental Congress adopted resolution authorizing each colony to create its own government
Richard Henry Lee (VA) introduced a resolution saying that the colonies were “free and independent states”
Appointed a committee to draft a declaration of independence

11. drafted the Declaration
Committee that
drafted the Declaration
Benjamin Franklin
John Adams
Thomas Jefferson
Robert Livingston
Roger Sherman
John Adams

12. The Writing of the Declaration of Independence

13. Declaring Independence
Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the declaration
Excellent writer
From Virginia
July 4, 1776 – Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence
Based on Natural Rights philosophy of John Locke
“Unalienable Rights”
Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness
John Hancock, president of the congress was the first to sign
Declaring Independence

14. The Declaration in Five Parts
Preamble
“When in the Course of Human events…”
The Rights of the People
“…We hold these truths to be self evident…”
List of Grievances
“…He has refused his assent to laws…for the public good…”
Efforts to avoid separation
“…We have petitioned for a redress of grievances in the most humblest terms…”
Independence Declared
“…These united colonies are, of right ought to be free and independent states…”