The Continental Congresses What were the differences What

The Continental Congresses What were the differences? ?

What was the problem? § The extent of British authority over the colonies was the most important question, even more than the taxes.

Meeting to discuss § At the request of colonial assemblies of Massachusetts and Virginia, all but Georgia’s colonial assembly agreed to select a group of delegates to attend a continental congress authorized to communicate with the king on behalf of the now united colonies.

First Continental Congress § § Met in Philadelphia Sept 5 to Oct 26, 1774 56 delegates from 12 colonies Goal was to iron out the differences with the king of England

Results § By October, they agreed to oppose the Coercive Acts and to establish a formal organization to boycott British goods § Drafted a Declaration of Rights and Resolves, calling for colonial rights of petition and assembly, trial by peers, freedom from a standing army, and selection of representative councils to levy taxes

What if the king doesn’t agree? § If the king did not agree to their demands, they would meet again in Philadelphia in May 1775.

Guess what… § He refused! § A second continental congress was to meet in May § Fighting broke out before, on April 19 at Lexington and Concord: the “shot heard round the world” § Eight colonial soldiers died, and 16, 000 British troops took Boston

Second Continental Congress § May 10, 1775 § Delegates were united by their hostility towards Britain § To avoid conflict, the Congress signed the Olive Branch Petition on July 5 § Asked King George to end hostilities § He again rejected it; sent 20, 000 troops to stop the rebellion

George Washington! § As a precautionary move, the Congress appointed the first GW as commander in chief of the Continental Army

Thomas Paine § Common Sense: a pamphlet forcefully arguing for independence from Britain § Paine denounced the corrupt British monarchy and offered reasons to break with Britain § Read throughout the colonies, and people were all on board § One out of 13 colonists read it: a huge number then!

This led to… § Virginia was the first call for independence § There was a vote at the Congress to do this, and six colonies were on board: the rest needed time to decide § In the meantime, one of the other tasks was to write a Declaration of Independence… § Thomas Jefferson of VA was selected the chair for drafting a Declaration; Franklin and John Adams are also a part of this