1. 1774-1776: Life on the brink Two sides: War and Peace
Two Political Parties: Whigs & Tories
Tories were loyalists (also known as Royalists, and King’s Friends)- The South was made up of Tories
First Continental Congress meets in 1774: continue protests until England redresses (fixes) issues
Arguments for/against War are published
First battle: Lexington & Concord, 1775 Shots Heard Around the World-the world was watching Minute Men militia secure their weapons/supplies

2. Turn to your shoulder partner to consider the two parties answer:
Which political party do you think is reflected by a majority of those in the South? Why?
Farmer Refuted- Alexander Hamilton (primary source) handout = Homework

3. Second Continental Congress:
Olive Branch Petition: last ditch effort to make peace with KGIII; done to appease Tories
George Washington is given command of the Continental Army. He was Virginian- turn to your partner and tell them why that mattered
American Philosophes (experts in Enlightenment thought and documents):
Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Thomas Paine

4. Declaration of Independence
The main purpose of America’s Declaration of Independence was to explain to foreign nations why the colonies had chosen to separate themselves from Great Britain.
It included a list of grievances to the King of England
The Revolutionary War had already begun, and several major battles had already taken place. The American colonies had already cut most major ties to England, and had established their own congress, currency, army, and post office.
Thomas Jefferson was chosen to draft the letter – the break-up letter- which he did in a single day. Four other members, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams were part of the committee to help Jefferson.
What do you say to each other in a break-up letter?
What do you predict will be in the ultimate break-up letter to King George III?

5. Declaration of Independence
In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson explained that a body of people have a right to change governments if that government becomes oppressive (unfair and controlling).
He further explained that governments fail when they no longer have the consent of the governed. Since Parliament clearly lacked the consent of the American colonists to govern them, it was no longer legitimate.
The Declaration was presented to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was approved with a few revisions, John Adams revised it first, then Ben Franklin, after that a committee edited it one last time. Adopted July 4, 1776
Of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence,
John Hancock, of Massachusetts was the first.

6. Second Continental Congress: Pen People
Create a page in your binder with the title above
Use Post-it notes to carefully make a 9-box grid: Write Names of Pen People on the outside of post-it notes
Write underneath the post-it note the quote or document that influenced the Declaration of Independence

7. Patrick Henry
John Adams
Samuel Adams
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Paine  
George Washington
Abigail Adams
Mercy Otis Warren

8. Patrick Henry

9. Patrick Henry
"Give me liberty or give me death!" spoken while urging Virginia colonial militia to be armed for defense against England.
He became governor of the new commonwealth of Virginia in 1776.
Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses he spoke“If this be treason, make the most of it!”
“I’m not a Virginian, I am an American” was another one of his patriot chants

10. John Adams

11. John Adams He was a Massachusetts lawyer
He married Abigail Adams, a devoted mother of six children
As a big surprise he defended the Redcoats after the Boston Massacre
In the summer of 1776, he and Benjamin Franklin helped Thomas Jefferson make revisions on the Declaration of Independence not receiving much credit for his actions

12. Samuel Adams

13. Samuel Adams He was a cousin of John Adams.
Founder of the Sons of Liberty, a secret rebellion group stationed in Boston
He led Boston's resistance to the Tea Act, which reached its high point with the Boston Tea Party.
Delegate to the 2nd Continental Congress

14. Benjamin Franklin

15. Benjamin Franklin
Diplomat in France and gaining France's help in the Revolutionary War.
Creator of the Albany Plan of Union cartoon to urge colonies to come together during French and Indian War, same illustration was used in American Revolution to rally the colonies to fight together.
Revised the Declaration of Independence after Adams
Scientist, Inventor, American Enlightenment Philosophe

16. Thomas Jefferson

17. Thomas Jefferson He was the author of the Declaration of Independence.
Captured words from John Locke to place in Declaration of Independence – “life, liberty and property” – changed the word property – did not want to divide the colonies into pro- slave/anti-slave issue as of 1776
Virginian, excellent writer, 33 years old, slave holder
One of the leading architects of his time, he designed the Virginia Capitol, the University of Virginia and his home, Monticello.

18. Thomas Paine

19. Thomas Paine
He was a famous writer whose words greatly influenced the leaders of the American Revolution.
He wrote and published the pamphlet "Common Sense" read on page 98
Common Sense urged for the Declaration of Independence

20. Don’t forget the Ladies! Abigail Adams

21. Abigail Adams
She was wife - John Adams, and mother to the 6th President of the U.S.- John Quincy Adams
A devoted women’s rights advocate
Founder of the Daughters of Liberty – these women urged colonists to “homespun” their own cloth and BOYCOTT English cloth
She urged her husband to "remember the ladies" when writing the nation's new laws and she opposed slavery.

22. Mercy Otis Warren

23. Mercy Otis Warren
She was a poet whose friends included the famous John and Abigail Adams.
Her brother, James Otis, who made the famous saying, “No Taxation without Representation”
Hosted the first Committee of Correspondence in the Warren home
A propaganda screenplay writer who wrote plays against the British; Wrote songs for colonies