1. A MERICA ’ S I NDEPENDENCE 3:2 War begins in 1774 with the battles of Lexington and Concord 1775 the 2nd Continental Congress meets Representatives from each colony gather to discuss what they want to do about Britain -Appointed George Washington the General of the Colonial Army

2. Representatives tried several times to convince King George to end fighting peacefully and just give colonist their rights and take the taxes away King George just sent more troops July 4, 1776 the men from the 2nd Continental Congress met again and wrote The Declaration of Independence -Formally cut all ties with Britain -Thomas Jefferson was the main author

3. D ECLARATION OF I NDEPENDENCE Written in 1776 Main author was Thomas Jefferson It was a letter to King George stating 1. All men have the rights to life, liberty (freedom), and pursuit of happiness 2. These rights should be secured by the government because the citizens put the gov’t in power 3. The British had violated colonists rights by taxing them and attacking them 4. Colonists had the right to break away from Britain because Britain violate those rights 5. Colonies were no longer going to obey the King

4. C OLONISTS TAKE SIDES Colonists who supported separating from Britain were called Patriots Colonists who wanted to remain under English control were called Loyalists Many loyalists left the colonies and went back to England Summar y