US HISTORY

Chapter 5Section 4

ROUND 2 Second Continental Congress – May 10, 1775

John Adams, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and George Washington

Benjamin Franklin – respected Pennsylvania member of legislature

John Hancock – wealthy Massachusetts merchant, funded Patriot groups

Thomas Jefferson – brilliant thinker and member of the Virginia House of Burgesses

Actions: Set up a Post Office (Franklin in charge) Create the Continental Army (Washington in charge) Offer Britain a last petition – formal request

The Olive Branch Petition – offer a solution other than war to the king King responds by readying for battle (German troops and British troops)

BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE British troops stationed in Canada plan to

march on New York From Fort Ticonderoga the Patriot force conquers

Montreal Attack on Quebec (led by B. Arnold) failed Washington attacks the British forces (led by

William Howe) in Boston Thomas Paine – writes Common Sense

Speaks to the feelings of many Patriots It is “common sense” to break from tyranny

A BOLD CLAIM Continental Congress meets again in Philadelphia

Main question: Should colonies break from England? Richard Henry Lee – proposed freedom for colonies

12 of 13 support (New York later supports) Declaration of Independence – Jefferson wrote the

document (John Adams and Benjamin Franklin gave suggestions)

Used English philosopher John Locke’s ideals (all people are born with natural right, governments are created to protects rights, and any government that does not should be overthrown)

John Hancock – president of the Congress signs first 56 delegates sign the document

This feature can be found on pages 170–171 of your textbook.

“I’m obnoxious . . . and unpopular. You are very much otherwise.”

John Adams,to Thomas Jefferson in discussing

which of them should write the Declaration of Independence in

1776

THE DECLARATION The Declaration of Independence (or The

Beginning of the American Revolution) First Section: Preamble – introduction

People have the right to alter or abolish unjust governments

Second and Third Sections: Reasons for Break Cutting of trade with the world Imposing taxes without consent Ignoring petitions for repealing taxes

Fourth Section: Declaration of a New Nation Pledge of the colonies to each other as a new nation

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60 Seconds it takes a Minuteman soldier to get ready to fight 16 Age of Sibyl Ludington, who in 1777 made a 40-mile midnight ride like Paul Revere’s, shouting “The British are coming!” 10,000 The approximate number of enslaved persons who earned their freedom by fighting against the British 200 Number of American doctors with actual medical degrees in 1776

This feature can be found on pages 170–171 of your textbook. Click the mouse

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Checking for Understanding

__ 1. the introduction to a formal document, especially the Constitution

__ 2. a formal request

A. petitionB. preamble

Define Match the terms on the right with their definitions on the left.

B

A