1. 2nd Continental Congress has a Decision to Make!
Independence or Peace?
2nd Continental Congress has a Decision to Make!

2. Try Peace 1st - Olive Branch Petition (1775)
Wanted self-gov. but still be loyal to king
Written by Dickinson (a moderate)
King George III refused to read
Ordered naval blockade instead
At this point,why was it “too late to apologize’?

3. Colonists Attack Quebec
Urged by Radicals in Congress
Hoped French would rebel - they did not
Captured Montreal
Battles spread to VA & NC ( )
British hired 30,000 mercenaries from Germany (Hessians) -spring 1776
no hopes of reconciliation now

4. Declare Independence??
Colonists were influenced by Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
47-page essay, urging independence
angry, harsh language
called king, “royal brute of Britain”
Independence = America’s destiny
500,000 copies sold
powerful!

5. Thomas Paine & Common Sense
British immigrant
Ben Franklin convinced him to come
Common Sense, collection of essays urging independence, widely read in colonies
Donated profits from essay to Revolution
Returned to England, accused of treason
Imprisoned in France during French Rev.
“Everything that is right or reasonable pleads for separation.”

6. Idea of Independence Gaining Strength
June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee (Robert E. Lee’s grandfather) proposed independence
Committee chosen - Philip Livingston, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman
July 2, delegates voted unanimously for freedom
July 4, Declaration was adopted and read publicly

7. “Declaration was Pure Locke!”
Comment by Jefferson
He drew heavily from Locke’s 2nd Treatise on Government
Especially Locke’s ideas on “natural rights” and right to change an abusive government
“Life, Liberty, Property”
Jefferson changed “property” to “pursuit of happiness”
WHY?

8. What About Slavery? 1st draft condemned slavery! (pg. 132)
Called it cruel and unjust
Franklin and Adams urged him to delete it
Colonial unity would be required to win war
Issue of slavery would divide colonies, offended GA & SC
Could force pro-slavery colonists to support king
Jefferson dropped it

9. The Declaration of Independence
Painting of the Committee at work
Jefferson
Adams
Franklin
Painting by J.L.G. Ferris

11. Artist – John Trumbull, 1817 Hangs in Capitol rotunda
12’ X 8’ Oil on Canvas
Portrays the 5-man committee submitting their work, not the signing
Depicts 42 of the 56 signers
And some who would not sign, like Dickinson (Why do you think he would not?)
Jefferson seems to be standing on Adams’ foot (symbolizing their political rivalry?)
Painting used on the 2 Dollar Bill

12. Two Dollar Bill

13. Howard Chandler Christy’s Signing of the Declaration, 1940, Also hangs in nation’s capitol