1. Ch 6.3 – 6.4 Road Leading to War/ Declaring our Independence
EQ’s:
Describe the events leading up to the writing of the Declaration of Independence.
2. What is the Declaration of Independence and why was it written?

2. The Intolerable Acts
British pass Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts) in 1774 to punish Massachusetts (MA) colony for Boston Tea Party
Intolerable Acts:
Closed Boston ports/trade and supplies cut off
Forced British troops to be housed by colonists
Rest of colonists support MA by sending food and $ to Boston

3. First Continental Congress
Delegates from colonies meet in Philadelphia to discuss future plans, meeting known as the First Continental Congress
Delegates agree to boycott British goods until Intolerable Acts repealed; also decided to start training colonial troops
Most delegates did not call for independence, but the seeds were planted

4. England’s Response
Many colonists thought boycotts would end conflict; others thought if fighting happened it would be brief
Parliament did not back down, increasing taxes and troop size in colonies
British also arrested colonial leaders and seized colonial weapons

5. Lexington and Concord - 1775
In Lexington 700 British troops met 70 colonists - colonists refused to drop weapons
Battle erupted with one shot, British forced to retreat
British marched to Concord, destroyed Colonist military supplies but were met by colonist minutemen and a 2nd battle ensued

6. THE SHOT heard ‘round the world Artist: Don Troiani
Image Courtesy of The National Guard

8. Continental Army Forms
After Lexington and Concord over 20,000 men gather in Boston to join colonist army
May 10, 1775 a Second Continental Congress meeting takes place and it is decided to form a Continental Army
Battle of Bunker Hill follows shortly after in June of 1775 – English win, but with heavy losses

9. Last Attempt at Peace
Despite conflict most colonists still hoped for peace
In July 1775 Congress drafted Olive Branch Petition and sent it to King George III asking the king to restore harmony between Britain and the colonies
King George III rejected petition and created more measures to punish colonies such as navel blockades
King George III

10. Common Sense
In early 1776 most Americans still wanted to avoid permanent break with Britain
Publication of pamphlet – Common Sense – written by Thomas Paine, helped convince many Americans that a complete break with Britain was necessary
Over 100,000 copies were sold in 3 months
Thomas Paine

11. Declaration of Independence
In 1776 Continental Congress appointed group of men to draft a call for independence from England (including Thomas Jefferson)
Purpose of Declaration of Independence was to explain why colonists felt need to break free from English rule

12. Ideas of the Declaration of Independence
Jefferson used John Locke’s ideas:
Power to govern a nation comes from the people
People are born with the natural rights to be free, live, and pursue happiness
Purpose of government is to protect the natural rights people are born with
John Locke

13. Continued “All men are created equal” = free, white men
Continental Congress decides to adopt Declaration of Independence based on its argument that:
A country loses its right to govern the people if it disregards the people’s rights

14. Reflection!
Write a 10 sentence minimum summary answering the EQs with details! 
Remember the EQs were:
1. Describe the events leading up to the writing of the Declaration of Independence.
2. What is the Declaration of Independence and why was it written?