What Led to the Declaration of Independence???

What Led to the Declaration of Independence???

Introduction http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/declaration-of-independence2nd Continental Congress May 1775Continental Congress had no legal authority and no resourcesAssumed the role of a Revolutionary GovernmentJune 15th named the minutemen the Continental Army and George Washington as its commander

Battle of Bunker HillJune 17, 1775Now we have militiamen from RI, NH, and CT too3 British generals: William Howe, Henry Clinton, John BurgoyneBreeds Hill was the actual location but named Bunker Hill because that was the original plan

Bunker HillBritish attacked in blistering heat 2,400 troops moved in tight formation through tall grass.Americans were ordered not to fire until they could see the British with their own eyesSeveral dead bodiesMilitiamen cheered as they watched the greatest soldiers in the world retreating in panicFinally on the 3rd attempt to attack the Americans, colonials began to run out of gunpowder and were forced to throw stones. British suffered 1,054 injuries while the American losses numbered at 4002 Profound EffectsHigh number of British casualties made the English generals more cautious in subsequent encounters with Continental ArmyCongress recommended that all able-bodied men enlist in a militia

Olive Branch Petition Written by John Dickinson on July 5, 1775Think back to your RANT Quiz what did this petition state?How did the king respond?QuebecColonists tried to take Quebec from British but failedLed by Richard Montgomery and Benedict ArnoldDecember 31, 1775Smallpox killed hundreds (I guess what goes around comes around?)Please note William Howe replaced Thomas Gage as British commander at this pointWho was Thomas Gage? Thomas Paine, Common SenseEarly 1776Printed anonymously in PhillyThe common sense of the matter, according to Paine, was that King George III and his advisers bore the responsibility for the malice towards the colonies. Americans should consult their own interests, abandon George III, and declare their independence: the blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, TIS TIME TO PART.Within 3 months 100,000 copies sold

Thomas Paine

Declaration of Independence

Dec of IndependenceCommittee of 5 appointed from Continental Congress John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Robert Livingston of New York and Roger Sherman of Connecticut Adams and Jefferson were to write the first draftJefferson ends up writing the first draft by himselfDeclaration of Independence Jefferson shared his draft with the committee members and they made several minor revisions.They submitted the document to the entire Congress on June 28th, whereupon it was tabled on July 1st.Over the next 3 days the legislators made 86 changes in Jeffersons declaration, include shortening its overall length by 1/4 .It became a more powerful document as a result

Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence is grounded in John Lockes contract theory of governmentJefferson said that the government derived their just Powers from the consent of the people, who were entitled to alter or abolish those that denied their unalienable rights to life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Representatives of the United States of America, therefore, declared the thirteen United Colonies to be Free and Independent States. http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/declaration-of-independence/videos