Activities of the 2nd Continental Congress

1775-1783 Attendees of Note: Ben Franklin, John Dickinson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Richard H. Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Edward Rutledge, Roger Sherman

Seek Reconciliation Function as Central Government Establish National Government

“Olive Branch Petition”(1775)

Declare Independence

Draft and Ratify Articles of Confederation (1781)

Oversee War Efforts

Print $ / Raise $ Pay for Rev. War

Engage in Diplomacy with other countries: France and Spain

Agreement by Colonies

Resolution in Congress

Draft /Revise Declaration

Approval in Congress

Public Proclamation

“Declaration of the Causes

and Necessity of Taking Up

Arms” (1775)

George

Washington

Activities of the 2nd Continental Congress

1775-1783

“The Olive Branch Petition” to King

George III 1775

Attached to your Majesty's person, family and government with all the devotion that principle and affection can inspire, connected with Great Britain by the strongest ties that can unite societies, and deploring every event that tends in any degree to weaken them, we solemnly assure your Majesty, that we not only most ardently desire the former harmony between her and these colonies may be restored but that a concord may be established between them upon so firm a basis, as to perpetuate its blessings uninterrupted by any future dissentions to succeeding generations.

Activities of the 2nd Continental Congress

1775-1783

“Declaration of the Causes &

Necessity of Taking Up Arms” 1775

The Legislature of Great-Britain, attempted to effect their cruel and impolitic Purpose of enslaving these Colonies by Violence, and have

thereby rendered it necessary for us to close with their last Appeal from Reason to Arms….In our own native Land, in defence of the Freedom that is our Birthright, and which we ever enjoyed till the late Violation of it—for the protection of our Property, acquired solely by the honest Industry

of our fore-fathers and ourselves, against Violence actually offered, we have taken up Arms. We shall lay them down when Hostilities shall cease on the part of the Aggressors, and all danger of their being renewed shall

be removed, and not before.

The King’s Response to The Olive Branch Petition

Activities of the 2nd Continental Congress

1775-1783

No Reconciliation! Laying the

Groundwork for Independence

Continental Congressmen had

to return to Colonies to secure the agreement of

each Colony’s legislative body

Continental Congressmen had to manage the Loyalists – those colonists who

wanted to remain subjects of King

George

Huge propaganda campaign against the Crown and for Independence: Cartoons, Posters, Newspaper stories / editorials; Songs

Firing Up the People: The Influence of Thomas Paine and Common Sense

January 1776

“I offer nothing more than simple facts, plain arguments, and common sense”

Activities of the 2nd Continental Congress

1775-1783

The Resolution to be Free: Richard

Henry Lee on June 7, 1776

Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are

absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of

Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.

Activities of the 2nd Continental Congress

1775-1783

Committee of 5 is Selected to Draft a Declaration of

Intent, June 1776

John Adams Benjamin Franklin Thomas Jefferson Robert Livingston Roger Sherman

Writing the Declaration of Independence

Committee of 5 nominates

Thomas Jefferson to write the Draft

June 7 – 28 Thomas Jefferson on his intent:

“It was intended to be an expression of the American mind, and to give to that expression the

proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion.”

Writing the Declaration of Independence

First Revision: Ben Franklin &

John Adams refine Jefferson’s draft

Writing the Declaration of Independence

Presenting the Final Draft to the

Continental Congress, June 28

“The Table Draft” Laid in the

Congressional Chambers for for three days (June 28-July 1) so

members of the Congress could read and ponder its words

Debating the Declaration of Independence

The Final Debate in Congress: John

Dickinson vs. John Adams

July 1, 1776

Celebrating the Vote for Independence

The Vote that Created a New

Nation, July 2, 1776

Letter from John Adams to his wife, Abigail Yesterday, the greatest question was decided, which ever was debated in America, and a greater, perhaps, never was nor will be decided among men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, … You will see in a few days a Declaration setting forth the causes which have impelled us to this mighty revolution, and the reasons which will justify it in the sight of God and man.

Time has been given for the whole people maturely to consider the great question of independence, and to ripen their judgment, dissipate their fears, and allure their hopes, by discussing it in newspapers and pamphlets, by debating it in assemblies, conventions, committees of safety and inspection, in town and county meetings, as well as in private conversations, so that the whole people, in every colony of the thirteen, have now adopted it as their own act. This will cement the union…

Debating the Declaration of Independence

Debating the Final Revisions to the

Declaration, July 2-3

Revising the Declaration of Independence:

Cooperative Group Activity

Signing the Declaration of Independence

The Signing of the Declaration of Independence,

July 4, 1776