Chapter 5, Lesson 4 Notes - DECLARING INDEPENDENCE

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Chapter 5, Lesson 4 Notes - DECLARING INDEPENDENCE

I.  DISTINGUISHED LEADERS

1.  May 10, 1775 – Second Continental Congress met - not ready to break away from Britain

II.  KEY ACTIONS

1.  Continental Congress’ steps to govern colonies:

i.  Authorized printing of money and set up post office (Franklin in charge)

ii. Formed committees to handle relations with Native Americans and foreign countries

iii.  Created Continental Army – to fight British (Washington to command)

2.  Sent Olive Branch Petition – formal request – to King George III – assured colonists wanted peace and asked to protect colonists’ rights

3.  King prepared for war - hired more than 30,000 German soldiers (Hessians) to fight

III.  THE WAR HEATS UP

1.  Congress learned British troops in Canada were planning to invade NY

i.  Americans sent a unit of Patriots from Fort Ticonderoga and captured Montreal

ii. Benedict Arnold’s attack on Quebec failed

2.  July 1775 – Washington reaches Boston

i.  Militia men - disorganized and lacked discipline; begin turning them into soldiers

ii. Needed weapons

iii.  Arranged to have dozens of cannons hauled 300 miles – huge effort

3.  March 1776 – Washington believed army was ready to fight

i.  Overnight - moved soldiers and cannons into position overlooking Boston

ii. Move surprised British; Gen. Howe commanded soldiers to board ships and withdraw from Boston

iii.  March 17 – Washington watched as British troops sailed to Halifax, Novia Scotia

IV.  MOVING TOWARD INDEPENDENCE

1.  Still hope colonies could remain part of Britain but independence support growing

2.  January 1776 – Thomas Paine wrote pamphlet called Common Sense – called for complete break with British rule

V.  DECLARING INDEPENDENCE

1.  Second Continental Congress debated on independence

i.  Richard Henry Lee made resolution that America should be independent

ii. Some felt they should not form separate nation

iii.  Others felt war had already begun and they should be free

iv.  Some feared Britain’s power to crush rebellion

VI.  WRITING THE DECLARATION

1.  While debating – Congress chose a committee to write declaration of independence (John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman)

i.  Adams asked Jefferson to write first draft; he agreed

2.  Drew ideas from English philosopher John Locke

i.  1690s – Locke expressed idea people are born with certain natural rights to life, liberty, and property; people form governments to protect those rights; government interfering with those rights could rightfully be overthrown

3.  July 2, 1776 – Second Continental Congress voted on Lee’s resolution for independence

i.  Twelve colonies voted for independence – NY did not vote but later supported

4.  July 4, 1776 - Declaration of Independence approved

5.  July 9 - Washington had Declaration read to troops in NYC

VII.  THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

1.  Four major parts:

i.  Preamble – introduction – states people who wish to form new country should explain their reasons for doing so

ii. Next two sections list rights colonists believed they should have and their complaints against Great Britain

iii.  Final proclaims existence of new nation

2.  Declaration begins with what had long been viewed as basic English rights

3.  States government exists to protect these rights