Moving Toward Independence

1
Moving Toward Independence

• Chapter 54

2
2nd Continental Congress 5/10/1775

• Met in Philadelphia 3 weeks after battle of
  Lexington and Concord
• Delegates from all 13 colonies attended
• Returning from 1st Cont. Congress were John
  Adams, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry
  Lee, George Washington

3
Delegates to 2nd Cont. Congress

• Benjamin Franklin former member of Pennsylvania
  legislature/colonial spokesperson in London
  during Stamp Act crisis

4

• Thomas Jefferson 32 year old member of the
  Virginia House of Burgesses/ brilliant thinker
  and writer

5

• John Hancock wealthy colonist from
  Massachusetts who had funded Patriot groups
  including the Sons of Liberty/chosen as president
  of the congress

6
Actions of the 2nd Cont. Congress

• Authorized the printing of money
• Set up post office with B. Franklin in charge.
• Established committees to communicate with Native
  Americans and other countries
• Created the Continental ArmyGeorge Washington
  chosen as commander
• Drafted and sent Olive Branch Petition to King
  George III

7
Thomas Paine Common Sense

• Pamphlet published January 1776 to increase
  colonial support for independence from Britain
• Sold 120,000 copies in 3 months
• Argued that it was common sense for colonies to
  become an independent nation.

8
Thomas Jefferson

• Spent 2 weeks on draft
• July 2, 1776 CC2 voted unanimously to declare
  independence

9

• On July 4, 1776, the Congress approved
  Jeffersons draft of the Declaration of
  Independence after making a few minor changes.
• John Hancock signed first as President of the
  Congress.
• Eventually all 55 delegates signed

10
Liberty Bell in Philadelphia

• Rang on July 8, 1776 to call people to
  Independence Hall to hear the first public
  reading of the Declaration of Independence