The Second Continental The Second Continental CongressCongress

Who?Who? John AdamsJohn Adams Samuel AdamsSamuel Adams Patrick HenryPatrick Henry Richard Henry LeeRichard Henry Lee George WashingtonGeorge Washington Ben FranklinBen Franklin Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson John HancockJohn Hancock All delegates of the First Continental CongressAll delegates of the First Continental Congress

The Second Continental The Second Continental Congress Continued…Congress Continued…

What did it do?What did it do? Authorized the printing of moneyAuthorized the printing of money Set up a post office with Franklin in chargeSet up a post office with Franklin in charge Established committees to communicate with the Established committees to communicate with the

Native Americans and other countriesNative Americans and other countries Organized the Continental Army to fight against Organized the Continental Army to fight against

Britain in an organized wayBritain in an organized way Unanimously chose George Washington to be the army’s Unanimously chose George Washington to be the army’s

CommanderCommander

The Olive Branch PetitionThe Olive Branch Petition

Second Continental Congress gave the British Second Continental Congress gave the British one final chance to avoid all out warone final chance to avoid all out war

This PETITION assured the king of the This PETITION assured the king of the colonists desire for peacecolonists desire for peace

Asked for him to protect the colonists rightsAsked for him to protect the colonists rights King George III denied the Olive Branch King George III denied the Olive Branch

PetitionPetition Hired 30,000 German troops to send to AmericaHired 30,000 German troops to send to America

Possibly no other writer than Thomas Paine did more to inspire Americans

to obtain their independence from Great Britain and to strive to spread the

principles of the American

Revolution to Europe.

In January 1776, he published his

47-page pamphlet,

Common Sense.

Thomas Paine’s Common Thomas Paine’s Common SenseSense

Captured the attention of the ColonistsCaptured the attention of the Colonists Paine called for complete independence Paine called for complete independence

from Britainfrom Britain Argued that it was simply “Common Argued that it was simply “Common

Sense” to stop following the “Royal Sense” to stop following the “Royal Brute” King George IIIBrute” King George III

Common Sense INSPIRED AmericansCommon Sense INSPIRED Americans

"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the services of their country; but he that stands it NOW deserves the love and thanks

of man and woman." (The American Crisis, 1776)

"The period of debate is closed. Arms, as a last resource, must decide the contest.“(Common Sense,

1776)

"Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a

necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one." (Common Sense, 1776)

Famous Quotes:

Declaring IndependenceDeclaring Independence Colonies needed to make a decision, Colonies needed to make a decision, Should they Should they

declare themselves an independent nation? Or declare themselves an independent nation? Or should they stay under British rule?should they stay under British rule?

Virginia’s Richard Henry Lee proposed a Virginia’s Richard Henry Lee proposed a resolution : resolution : “That these United Colonies are, and “That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent of right ought to be, free and independent States…and that all political connection States…and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be totally dissolved.”and ought to be totally dissolved.”

As the Resolution was debated, Thomas Jefferson As the Resolution was debated, Thomas Jefferson was selected to draft a Declaration of was selected to draft a Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

independence : independence : ((n)n)the freedom to govern the freedom to govern

on one’s own.on one’s own.

declaration : (n)an official statement

Who was involved?Who was involved?

Benjamin Benjamin FranklinFranklin

John AdamsJohn Adams Robert R. Robert R.

LivingstonLivingston Roger ShermanRoger Sherman Thomas Thomas

JeffersonJefferson

Where did it all take Where did it all take place?place?

This is a replica of This is a replica of the Graff house the Graff house where Jefferson where Jefferson wrote the majority wrote the majority of the 1of the 1stst draft of draft of the Declaration of the Declaration of Independence. Independence. The original The original building (at this building (at this location) was location) was destroyed in destroyed in 1888.1888.

What did What did it look it look like?like?

Who wrote the first draft?

Inspiration for the Inspiration for the DeclarationDeclaration

Drew ideas from English Philosopher Drew ideas from English Philosopher John LockeJohn Locke

Locke wrote that people were born with Locke wrote that people were born with certain natural rights to life, liberty, and certain natural rights to life, liberty, and property; that people formed property; that people formed governments to protect these rights; and governments to protect these rights; and that government interfering with these that government interfering with these rights might rightfully be over thrownrights might rightfully be over thrown

APPROVED!APPROVED!

Approved Lee’s Resolution July 2, 1776Approved Lee’s Resolution July 2, 1776 Approved the Declaration of Approved the Declaration of

Independence July 4, 1776 after some Independence July 4, 1776 after some changeschanges

Who Who signed it signed it first?first?

President of the Congress

Parts of the DeclarationParts of the Declaration

1-Preamble-Intro1-Preamble-Intro 2-Rights Colonists 2-Rights Colonists

should haveshould have 3-Complaints 3-Complaints

against Englandagainst England 4-Proclaims the 4-Proclaims the

existence of a New existence of a New NationNation

““We hold these truths to be self-We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are evident, that all men are

created equal, that they are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”and the pursuit of Happiness.”