Ch 5 Sec 3 & 4

Independence – Ready or Not – here it comes!

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Continental CongressContinental Congress 2nd Continental CongressDate/Place

of meetingSept 1774, Philadelphia May 1775, Philadelphia

Purpose Organizes group to represent colonial interests(Did NOT establish a govt)

Established a government for the colonies

Who Attended 56 men sent from all colonies, except Georgia.

Samuel Adams & John Adams, George Washington & Patrick Henry

Delegates from all the colonies.

Samuel Adams & John Adams, George Washington & Patrick Henry.

Newbies: Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock (Pres.), Thomas Jefferson

Decisions 1. Repeal 13 Acts passed by Parliament

2. Voted to boycott ALL British good & trade

3. Passed resolution to for militas (citizen soldiers)

1. Print money

2. Est. post office

3. Est. committees to communicate with Nat Amer and other countries

4. Formed continental army (GW commander)

5. Wrote Olive Branch Petition and Declaration of Indep

TimeLine

• Jan 1776: Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet called “Common Sense”. Called for complete independence from BR

• April 1776: Battle of Lexington & Concord – 1st battle of American Revolution

• July 4, 1776: signed Declaration of Independence

Olive Branch Petition

• 2nd Cont. Congress sent a formal request to King

• It assured King of colonist desire for peace & to remain loyal to King

• It asked King to protect their rights (from Parliament)

• King refused to receive/read petition and instead prepared for war

Declaration of Independence

• Written by Thomas Jefferson• Justifies American Revolution (reasons why

colonists must break away from GR & form a new country

• According to DOI, govt exists to protect people’s rights. (Govt does NOT decide what our rights should be.)

* John Hancock first to sign it. (Signed his name very large – so King could read it without his glasses!)

Abigail Adams

• Husband (John Adams) assisted in writing DOI

• She sent famous letter to hubby stating “Don’t forget about the women.”

• Mrs Adams – 1st advocate for women’s rights

Declaration of Independence (DOI) – 4 parts of document

1. Preamble/intro

2. Declaration of Natural rights (list of rights that all men should have)

3. List of grievances – list of complaints against King George III

4. A proclamation/statement of the creation of a new nation (the United States of America)

DOI written and signed at Independence Hall

Assembly room

A copy of the DOI was then delivered to each of the colonies

Boston – DOI read from balcony

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