1. Decision for Independence
Chapter 5
Decision for Independence

2. Committee of Correspondence
                                                                                                                
Committee of Correspondence
wrote letters and pamphlets reporting to other colonies on events in Massachusetts
became a major tool of protest in every colony

3. committees continued to analyze the perilous situation in the colonies
were not sure what course of action to take
called for a Continental Congress, a gathering of 55 elected delegates from twelve colonies
Georgia sent no delegates, but agreed to support any decisions that were made

4. First Continental Congress
convened a meeting on September 5, 1774 in Philadelphia
passed a resolution to help Massachusetts, the Suffolk Resolves
encouraged forcible resistance to the Coercive Acts
agreed to halt all commerce with Britain until Parliament repealed the Acts
agreed to boycott all British goods
First Continental Congress

5. Shots Heard Round the World
George III – “blows must decide whether they are to be subject to this country or independent”
the blows the king warned about would come at Lexington and Concord
two small farm villages in Massachusetts

6. Gage dispatched troops to seize the rebel supplies
more and more British troops continued to arrive in Boston, around 4,000 in the city
under British General Thomas Gage
scouts reported that minutemen had a large store of arms in Concord – about 18 miles from Boston
Gage dispatched troops to seize the rebel supplies
around 700 troops left Boston

7. Paul Revere
active patriot warned the colonists that “The British are coming!”
Left in the night as a surprise attack.
Sons of Liberty – hung a lamp in a window to warn those across the Charles River and spread the word.

9. the British reach Lexington a small town near Concord
70 minutemen are waiting with their leader, Captain John Parker
they decided to stand on the village green
no one planned to fight
a shot was fired (probably a colonist), the redcoats discharged a volley and eight colonists were killed
“The Shot Heard Round the World”
Captain John Parker statue – as depicted on the back of the Massachusetts state quarter; in memory of those who died

10. men kept muskets at hand; ready to fight at a minute’s notice
Minutemen
special companies of Massachusetts militia prepared to respond to instant military emergencies
men kept muskets at hand; ready to fight at a minute’s notice
also collected weapons and gunpowder

11. British continued on to Concord
no arms were found in the village and the long march back to Boston turned into a rout
300 minutemen then forced the British to retreat
colonial sharpshooters, and women shooting from windows
73 redcoats killed, 200 more wounded or missing

12. Battle of Lexington and Concord
- fighting ended all hope of peaceful settlement with Britain
British retreating from Concord.

13. Battles of Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill
Colonel William Prescott had 1,200 minutemen on Bunker Hill to fire on British ships in Boston Harbor
he noticed that Breed’s Hill had a better position and had the minutemen move there

14. British General William Howe had 2,400 redcoats attack
the British were forced to retreat twice until finally they took the hill
1,000 redcoats were killed and 400 Americans
first major battle of the Revolution
proved the Americans could fight bravely and proved the British would not be easy to defeat

16. Beginning “The World over Again”
Second Continental Congress meets in May 1775 at Philadelphia
knew the country desperately needed strong central leadership and took control of the war
began issuing paper money to purchase supplies
even though they were assuming the powers of a sovereign government, they refused to declare independence

17. the delegates formed a Continental Army
appointed George Washington as commander
seemed to have greater military experience
looked like he should be commander in chief

18. Olive Branch Petition
sent a petition to King George III – declaring their loyalty to the king and asking him to repeal the Intolerable Acts
King George III was furious about the petition
vowed to bring rebels to justice
he ordered 20,000 more troops to the colonies to crush the revolt
The olive branch has been a symbol of peace since Ancient Greek times, if not before.

19. Parliament passes the Prohibitory Act
declared war on American commerce
colonists could not trade with the rest of the world
the British navy blockaded their ports and seized American ships on the high seas
British begin to hire German mercenaries
try to stir up rebellion in the colonies, by urging slaves to take up arms against their masters

20. Thomas Paine
wrote the most important pamphlet in American history called – Common Sense
he did not believe Parliament had the right to make laws for the 13 colonies

21. set out to change colonists’ attitudes toward Britain and the king
claimed the colonists did not owe Britain anything
that Britain only helped the colonies for its own profit
it would hurt the colonists to remain under British rule
Common Sense sold many colonists on the idea of independence
persuaded the common folk to sever their ties with Great Britain, that “Europe, not England is the parent country of America.”

22. The Continental Congress
meets in June 1776 and finally votes for independence
12 states for, none against, New York abstaining
appointed a committee to draw up a formal declaration of independence
committee included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman

24. http://encarta. msn. com/media_461516718/Second_Continental_Congress

25. Thomas Jefferson is the primary author
purpose of the document would be to tell the world why the colonies were breaking away from Britain
Thomas Jefferson is the primary author
July 2, 1776 the Continental Congress voted that the 13 colonies were “free and independent States”
delegates adopted document on July 4, 1776
the Declaration of Independence is printed and distributed

26. Thomas Jefferson discusses the Declaration of Independence with Benjamin Franklin, left, and John Adams, center.

28.
John Hancock was the president of the Continental Congress and signed Declaration first, he did so boldly

29. Declaration of Independence
Preamble – Introduction
3 Main Parts
Natural Rights
Lists of Wrongs by King George III
Announces Colonial Independence and the creation of the United States of America

30. 1. Natural Rights rights that belong to all people from birth
include certain unalienable rights
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
claimed that people have the right to protect these rights and to get rid of any government that threatens these rights

31. 2. Lists of Wrongs King disbanded colonial legislature
King sent troops to colonies in peacetime
King limited trade
King imposed taxes without consent of people
colonies had petitioned the King and the injustices had remained

32. 3. Announcing Independence
political ties with England are cut
they were now a free and independent nation
as a free nation they have the power to declare war, make alliances, conduct business and do all other acts that independent countries have the right to do

33. O R I G N A L

34. C O P Y