Chapter 9 Lesson 1
 The second Continental Congress met
in May of 1775
 The Continental Army was formed
 George Washington was named the
Commander and Chief
 While Washington began to train his
soldiers, the Congress made one last
attempt to avoid war
 Congress sent the King a letter that
became known as the Olive Branch
Petition
 The letter told the King that war could be
avoided if the British government would give
the colonists greater freedom in governing
themselves.
 King George III refused to even read the letter
 The King told Parliament that he would use
force to bring a “speedy end” to the illegal
rebellion
• Writer an immigrant from
Great Britain
• His writing of "Common
Sense" was so influential in
spurring on the
Revolutionary War that John
Adams reportedly said,
"Without the pen of the
author of 'Common Sense,'
the sword of Washington
would have been raised in
vain
 With the refusal of the Olive Branch
Petition, many more colonists were
convinced that he was no longer a good
and just King.
 Thomas Paine published a pamphlet called
“Common Sense.” Using language that was
easy to understand, Paine argued that it
was time to part with Britain.
 Thomas Paine’s words were sent all
over the colonies.
 Many colonists discussed and debated
Paine’s message
 Paine’s words convinced many
Americans that war was necessary.
 When my country, into which I had just set my foot,
was set on fire about my ears, it was time to stir. It
was time for every man to stir.
 Thomas Paine, Common Sense
 On June 11, 1776, the Second
Continental Congress
appointed a committee of
five men to write a
Declaration of
Independence from British
Rule.
 Those five men were
Thomas Jefferson, John
Adams, Benjamin Franklin,
Robert Livingston, and
Roger Sherman.
 Jefferson wrote the first draft. The committee
declared it to be almost perfect. The
committee presented the document to the
Congress after making a few corrections.
 Following a few more changes, Thomas
Jefferson's work was approved. Church bells
rang out on July 4, 1776, the day the
Declaration of Independence was adopted and
our nation was officially born.
 Declaration of Independence
 Bonus Features
 Chapter 9 Lesson 1
 Read the entire lesson and
complete the lesson review
questions in your spiral