Second Continental Congress

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Second Continental Congress
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Warm Up Questions

• Explain what happened at the battles of Lexington
  and Concord.
• Who would you say won these battles? Provide
  evidence to support your answers.
• What were the main arguments Loyalists and
  Patriots had. List three for each side.
• What do the colonists need in order to defeat the
  British military?

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After Lexington and Concord

• Gage moved his soldiers into the city of Boston
• Used Bostons landscape to his advantage
• Colonial attack by land impossible
• Colonists did not have a navy
• Fort Ticonderoga fell May 10, 1775
• Located in northern New York
• Ethan Allen led this attack
• His men were known as Green Mountain Boys

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Thomas Gage
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Ethan Allen

• B. January 21, 1738 D. February 12, 1789
• Fought in the French and Indian War
• Gained military experience here
• Colonel of the Green Mountain Boys
• Vermonts militia
• May 10, 1775--along with Benedict Arnold--led 83
  men to attack and capture Fort Ticonderoga
• Arnold did not like the disrespect he received
  from the Green Mountain Boys
• They mocked him and made fun of him
• Led to tensions with Allen
• Offered a position in the continental army, but
  turned it down

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2nd Continental Congress

• Met in Philadelphia, May 10, 1775
• Delegates included John and Samuel Adams,
  Patrick Henry, John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin,
  George Washington, and a new comer Thomas
  Jefferson
• Thomas Jefferson
• Brilliant writer from Virginia
• Wrote A Summary View of the Rights of British
  America
• Criticized Monarchies
• Warned King George that he was a servant of the
  people, not the other way around

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2nd Cont. Congress cont..

• Presided over by John Hancock
• They had no legal authority
• Could be put to death if discovered
• Still felt they could make peace--soon this was
  just a dream
• Future of all Americans depended upon their
  decisions
• What pressure!!!
• Had to address immediate concerns

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2nd Cont. Congress
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What They Addressed

• 1. Military Crisis
• Formed the Continental Army
• Named George Washington commander in chief
• He was a natural choice knew more about
  commanding men then any other colonist
• Wore his colonels uniform to the congress
• Why???
• Very strategic choice
• Prominent Southerner
• Washington and his staff left for Boston in late
  June

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What They Addressed cont..

• 2. Getting troops and supplies
• How are we going to get men to fight and how are
  we going to get them supplies?
• To get troops--
• offered to pay men if they gave 12 months service
• After 12 months, the men were free to leave

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What They Addressed cont..

• 3. Financing the War
• Attempted to pay by issuing paper money
• Borrowed from colonies and foreign countries
• Paper currency depreciated in value
• Raising money was a huge problem throughout the
  War
• To pay for soldiers, supplies, and arms

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Battle of Bunker Hill

• British forces controlled Boston
• No direct assault possible
• Boston was impregnable to direct assault
• BUT.if the colonists could get the higher
  ground, they could use artillery to bomb the
  British
• Militiamen seized Bunker Hill and Breeds Hill at
  Charlestown
• Started to build fortifications
• General Gage became alarmed, and worried

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Bunker Hill cont..

• On June 17, 1775 Gage sent men to take the hills
• Twice they went up, and twice the Patriots forced
  them down
• Finally on the third attempt, the redcoats
  captured the hills
• Only because the militia ran out of ammunition
  and was forced to retreat
• Britain won the Battle of Bunker Hill
• Or did they???

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Aftermath of Bunker Hill

• Britain lost over 1000 men out of 2500
• Patriots only lost 400
• British claimed the hill, but the Americans were
  victorious
• They have proved themselves against professional
  soldiers and exacted a terrible toll. The day
  ended in glory, but the loss was uncommon in
  officers for the number engaged.--British officer

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Battle Map
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Bunker Hill
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Bunker Hill monument
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Aftermath cont..

• Battle reduced the slim hope for peace
• So much death left each side determined to win at
  all cost
• General Gage replaced by General William Howe
• Continental Congress gave the Olive Branch
  Petition to King George
• Last ditched effort at peace Rejected by the
  king
• Congress adopted Declaration of the Causes and
  Necessity of Taking up Arms
• Condemned everything Britain had done since 1763

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General William Howe
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King Georges Reaction

• Announced new measures to punish the colonies
• British navy would block American ships leaving
  ports
• Would send 1000s of hired Hessian soldiers to
  fight in America
• German soldiers
• When once these rebels have felt a smart blow,
  they will submit--King George

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Declaring Independence

• They still had thoughts about peace
• They loved England and being English
• Two events pushed the colonies to independence in
  1776
• 1. Learned about the hiring of Hessian soldiers
• They were mercenary soldiers
• Mercenaries reputation was to rape and loot
• How could Britain do this?
• 2. Publication of Common Sense written by Thomas
  Paine

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Thomas Paine and Common Sense