Declaring Independence Pamphlet Project 4 Continental Army Forms

Declaring Independence Pamphlet Project 4

Continental Army Forms • 20, 000 Colonial Minutemen surround Boston • British Army sets up defense inside Boston • Ethan Allen and his militia the “Green Mountain Boys” capture Britain’s fort of Ticonderoga and capture their artillery

The Second Continental Congress • Met in Philadelphia • Formed the Continental Army • Washington was chosen as its commanding general • Printed money to pay that army

The Battle of Bunker Hill • Sealed any opportunity for the British and the colonists to make amends • Britain won the battle, but. . . • 1, 000 British casualties • 400 colonial casualties • America had stood up to the world’s most powerful army

Olive Branch Petition • Second Continental Congress tried to make peace with King George before the fighting got out of hand • Colonial leaders asked for a return to “the former harmony” • King George said no and ordered his navy to blockade the colonies

Washington Marches on Quebec • Washington wanted to take Quebec and get the Canadians fighting with the Americans • Washington mistimed his march and arrived in Canada during the midst of winter • American attack failed, and the American army limped home

The British Retreat from Boston • Washington positioned the artillery they had capture to bombard Boston • The British army retreats from Boston • Loyalist property in Boston was seized

Patriots win over the Colonists • Colonists still wanted peace with Britain • Kings refusal to accept the Olive Branch Petition & the colonists reading, Common Sense, by Thomas Paine.

John Locke • Life, Liberty, Freedom, Property. • The Basic Human Rights are known as “natural rights” • Unalienable - Rights that everyone has and, no one can take away • People have the right to choose their government and to overthrow it.

Declaring Independence • Thomas Jefferson – a farmer with a gift for writing was asked by the Continental Congress to draft a document declaring independence • He wrote the, Declaration of Independence • influenced by John Locke • Remember the Enlightenment? • Declaration was signed by 55 delagates and John Hancock (First to sign)

July 4, 1776 • Colonial delegates voted unanimously for freedom from Great Britain • We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor

Loyalists vs Patriots • Patriots • Wanted independence from Great Britain. Wanted to form their own country • Many saw an economic opportunity = an opportunity to make money • Loyalist • Wanted to remain loyal to the King of Great Britain • Many were governors and other King appointees • Feared what would happen to them if the colonists lost the war • Patriots made up about 50% of Americans • Loyalists and neutral individuals made up the other 50%

Taking Sides • Quakers – took sides with patriots but did not believe in fighting • African Americans – took sides with the British because the British promised them freedom. • Native Americans – sided with the British because colonists were the biggest threat