Transcript Document
Chapter 5 Section 4 Pages 147-151 Objectives: Students will be able to examine why the Declaration of Independence was written and what was involved. I. Colonial Leaders Emerge A. The Second Continental Congress assembled the first time on May 10, 1775. However, it would more than a year before the delegates would draft a document declaring independence from Britain. B. The 2nd Continental Congress included some of greatest political leaders of the time. John and Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, George Washington, Ben Franklin, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson were but a few. C. The 2nd Continental Congress established; 1. Authorization to print money. 2. Set up a Post office. 3. Establish a committee to talk to the Native Americans. 4. Most important; set up an Army. With George Washington as the Commander in Chief. D. Before the Declaration of Independence Congress sent Britain a final petition, or formal request called the “Olive Branch Petition” 1. First it asked for peace. 2. It asked for protection of their rights as Englishmen. This caused King George III to hire 30,000 German troops to fight beside the British Troops and they prepared for war. I. a. The Colonies Take the Offensive A. The British were preparing to attack New York from Canada, however the American Continental Army hit first at Quebec lead by Benedict Arnold; they lost. B. G. Washington reached Boston soon after the Battle of Bunker Hill and trained the Army to fight. When they were ready he attacked the redcoats commanded by Sir William Howe in Boston and they ran to their ships and sailed up to Halifax Nova Scotia. I. b. Moving Toward Independence A. Thomas Paine published a pamphlet that captured the attention of most American colonist. He called for complete independence in bold language. His pamphlet was called “Common Sense.” B. This inspired thousands Americas in the cause for independence. II. a. The Colonies Declare Independence A. The Colonist debated their decision to declare independence, or to stay British, under British rule. B. While this debate went on a committee of delegates wrote a document called The Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson was selected to write this document. C. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. First to officially state that the colonies ought to be free and independent. D. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write the Declaration of Independence. He took ideas from John Locke (English philosopher) Congress approved the Declaration on July 4, 1776. E. John Hancock signed it first really big so King George could see it without his glasses. (56 delegates signed it.) II. a. The Colonies Declare Independence A. Four Major Sections make up the document. 1st The Preamble: An introduction that the people wish to form a new country. 2nd and 3rd : list the rights, the colonist believe they should have and list the complaints against Britain. 4th proclaims the existence of the new nation. A. The Preamble states what many Americas thought were universal principles. “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” B. It declares that government exists to protect their rights, and if it does not then, “it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it and to institute new government.” C. Sections 2 & 3 states the crimes of King George: “cutting off trade with all parts of the world,” and “imposing taxes on us without our consent,” and ignoring our petitions to fix our grievances. D. It ends with America’s new status. Now pledging, “to each other, our Lives, our Fortunes, and our scared Honor,” as America declares themselves a new nation. So, begins the American Revolution.