Chapter 5 Sec 4Moving Toward Independence

• Colonial Leaders Emerge– Colonies Take the Offensive–Moving Toward Independence

• The Colonies Declare Independence– The Declaration of Independence

Second Continental Congress

• May 10, 1775• John Adams, Sam Adams, Patrick Henry,

Richard Henry Lee, George Washington, Ben Franklin, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson

• 2nd CC began to govern the colonies!• Authorized printing of money!• Established a Post Office!• Established Communication Committees• Established the Continental Army!

George Washington was the Army Commander.

The Continental Army was established to fight Britain in a more organized way than the Colonial Militia could.

John Adams- Lawyer for Redcoat Soldiers of the Boston massacre.

2nd President of the United States

Olive Branch Petition

• Petition- a formal request• Delegates offered Britain one last chance at all

out peace.• Assured the King of the colonist desire for peace• Asked King to protect the colonists’ rights.• George III refused the petition instead preparing

for war. • Instead he prepared for War=Hired 30,000

German troops to fight along side British Troops.

The Colonies Take the Offensive• British Troops planned to invade New York• stationed in what is now present day Canada.• Americans decide to strike 1st!• Patriots capture Montreal!• Benedict Arnold failed at Quebec!• Washington instilled discipline, organization, and

leadership in the militia…..• March 1776- Washington positioned troops in a semi-

circle around Boston and bombarded British Forces with cannons…..

• Redcoats under Sir William Howe withdrew & sailed to Nova Scotia.

Moving Toward Independence

• Late 1775/Early 1776-Americans still uncertain• January 1776- Thomas Paine- “Common Sense”• Captured attention of American colonists• Paine called for complete independence!!!!• “it is common sense to stop following the royal

brute, King George III.”• Not just a tax squabble but a fight over freedom.

The Colonies Declare Independence

• April 1776- NC to support independence.• June 7, 1776- Lee’s Resolution- “that these

United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states…. And that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”

• July 2, 1776- Congress voted on the resolution for independence. 12 voted yes… NY didn’t vote

Declaration of Independence

• July 4, 1776- John Hancock 1st to sign.• Largest signature…. KGIII without glasses……..• 56 delegates signed the document.• NY- soldiers tore down statue of KGIII• 4 Major Sections (pg 151)– Preamble- intro– Rights colonists should have– Complaints against Britain– Proclaimed existence of a new nation