The Road to Revolution
Declaring Independence
1. Lexington & Concord
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Known as the “Shot heard ‘round the World.”
Considered the 1st shot of the American Revolution
British tried to seize colonists’ arms & ammunition
Minutemen boasted they could be ready @ a moment’s
notice
The colonial militia drove the British back to Boston
The Midnight Riders
Boston Committee of Correspondence sent riders to warn
colonists of British invasion
• Paul Revere
• William Dawes
2. Choosing Sides:
 Loyalists-
England
 Patriots-
Loyal to
those who sided
with the rebels; wanted
freedom from Britain
3. Second Continental Congress

Met in Philadelphia
beginning in May 1775
1.
2.
3.
Formed the Continental
Army-Washington chosen to
lead
Authorized printing of paper
money
Wrote the Olive Branch
Petition
4. Offering an Olive Branch
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Asked the King to restore
peace in the colonies

Remove the British Army
(redcoats)
The king rejected the
offer
 sought new ways to
punish the colonies
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Blocked colonial ports and
hired German Hessians to
fight in colonies
5. Common Sense

A pamphlet written by Thomas
Paine.
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Urged the colonist to support
independence from Great
Britain
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Common Sense sold more than
100,000 copies

Gained large support for the
Independence Movement
(Patriots)
“Everything that is right or
natural pleads for separation”
While the men are away….

Abigail Adams
 Wife of John Adams
 Wrote letters to John while
he was at the Congress and
asked him to “remember
the ladies” while he was
fighting for independence
and equality.
 The first woman to speak of
“Women’s rights” in
America
 Gathered and sent supplies
to the Continental Army
• Mercy Otis Warren
– A writer of many plays,
poems, and essays that
supported the idea of
independence
Washington left to command the troops, but the
Declaration of Independence had not been written
yet, we had not officially declared war on England.
The Congress continued to argue and debate over
the issue of Independence while Washington and his
men tried to defend the colonies from continual
attacks by the Redcoats.
Washington asked many times for supplies and
support to be sent by Congress and Congress
continued to ignore the needs of the troops.
Frustration began to grow.
6. The Declaration of Independence: 1776
 Signed:
July 4, 1776
 Declared
our
independence from
Britain
 Listed
the grievances
the colonist had
against the King.
 Thomas
Jefferson was chosen
Declaring
to write the declaration
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
Excellent writer
From Virginia
Independence
 Based
on Natural Rights
philosophy of John Locke
 “Unalienable

Rights”
Life, liberty, and pursuit of
happiness
 John
Hancock, president of
the congress was the first to
sign

Also a member of the Sons of
Liberty
Declaration Committee:
Benjamin
Franklin
John Adams
Robert Livingston
Thomas Jefferson
John
RogerAdams
Sherman
3 MVPs of the Declaration of
Independence
1. Thomas Jefferson
 Virginia
 Wrote the D of I
 Studied the teachings of
John Locke
3. Benjamin Franklin
 Philadelphia, PA
 Very well-liked and influential
 Supported independence
and helped sway others for
support
 Worked closely with Adams
and Jefferson to make sure
the D of I was passed
2. John Adams
 Boston, MA
 One of the most outspoken
members in support of
independence.
 Worked closely with Franklin
and Jefferson to make sure
the D of I was passed.