Road to Revolution
Part II
From 1st Continental Congress to
Declaration of Independence
CH 6
Sections 3-4
The First Continental Congress
What?= Meeting of
delegates or
representatives of the
American colonies
When? 1774
Where? Philadelphia
Why? Discuss ways to
respond to the conflicts
with England/ British
threat – Intolerable Acts
The First Continental Congress
• A congress is a formal
meeting at which
delegates/representatives
discussed matters of
concern
• The First Continental
Congress lasted 7 weeks
The First Continental Congress
What do they decided during
this meeting/ Plan of action…
• They sent a letter to the
king stating:
– Petition – asking King to
have their rights back
– Boycott- not buying British
goods
– Militia - Creation of a militia
troop of volunteers
( minutemen) to defend
themselves
The First Continental Congress
Kings reaction = The king
refused to meet their
demand and decided to
use force
• In 1775 there were two
battles at Lexington and
Concord – The war has
begun!
• More and more people
were talking about
independence.
Fighting begins – Lexington & Concord
1775 fighting broke out
between American
colonies & Great Britain
– British troops to
Lexington & Concord
( Massachusetts)
– Hidden guns & weapons
– “First shoot heard
around the world”
Paul Revere &
The midnight ride
“ The British are
coming”
American Revolutionary War
Who? American colonies Vs.
Why? Colonist were not happy
England ( mother land)
with the British government
When? 1775-1783
What? War for independence
Why? Colonists thought that
they were not being treated
fairly, and their rights were
not being protected, so they
rebelled and fought for their
right to create a new &
independent government.
( social contract & Rousseau’s
warning)
The Push for Independence
• Independence means
self reliance and
freedom from outside
control; self
government
Dependent
Independent
Interdependent
The Push for Independence
Second Continental Congress
• War still going…
• Representatives met in
Philadelphia in 1775
• Second Continental
Congress
• Thinking about
independence…
• Not everyone thought it
was a good idea.
• Why??? – colonists were
divided
Colonists were divided
• Colonists were hoping to avoid war…
• They were British citizens, most wanted to resolved the
situation
• Colonists divided into 2 groups ( in favor or against
Independence)
Patriots V. Loyalists
Patriots = colonists who wanted independence (favor of
independence)
Loyalists= colonists who were loyal to the King & to
England ( against independence)
Patriots Vs. Loyalists
For Independence
• Blood has been spilled
• Wanted new kind of
government
Against Independence
• Felt British
• Loyal to the King
Common Sense
 Colonists were divided
( loyalists V patriots)
 Beginning 1776
 Most colonists wanted to
avoid break with Britain
 Common Sense – Pamphlet
 By Thomas Paine
 Propaganda supporting
Independence
 Sold more than 100,000
copies
 King as a tyrant –
Parliament does not work
alone/ without consent of
King
 Helped convince many
Americans that they need
INDEPENDENCE from England
Second Continental Congress
• The Congress
decided in favor of
independence.
• A committee was
formed to create a
document that
would announce
our independence.
Declaration of
Independence
The Declaration of Independence
• Committee of 5
delegates
• Main author was:
Thomas Jefferson
• It said all Americans had
the right to be
independent.
The Declaration of Independence
& The Enlightenment
• Not al the ideas came
from Jefferson.
• Enlightenment ideas
“ all man are created
equal”, they are
endowed by their
creator by unalienable
rights”( Life, liberty &
pursuit of happiness)
The Declaration of Independence
Social Contract
• The Declaration of
Independence argued
that the British
government did not look
after the interests of the
colonies nor protect their
rights.
• For this reason, the British
government was no
longer the rightful
government.
Declaration of Independence




What? Document drafted by Continental Congress
Who? Thomas Jefferson – committeeWhen? July 1776
Why? To explain the reasons why the colonies decided to declare
independence from Britain & summarize their ideas about government
 The document has 4 parts:
 Preamble :Introduction - explains why the Continental Congress drew up
the Declaration.
 Declaration of Rights: states that people have certain basic rights and that
government should protect those rights. ( Enlightenment ideas)
 List of Grievances: colonies complaints against England & the King
 Resolution of Independence: declares that the colonies are “Free and
Independent States”
The Declaration of Independence
• Congress approved
the Declaration of
Independence on July
4, 1776.
• The colonies were
independent in
theory.
• The war with Great
Britain continue…
Process – Declaration of
Independence
• Read the Declaration of Independence ( Page 183-185)
1) Find as many passages/thoughts as you can that
refer to Enlightenment thinker's philosophical views.
(Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau)
2) List several grievances the colonists have with
England as written in the Declaration of Independence.
3) Decide what was the worst (most valid) grievance.
Tell what it is and why you chose it as the worst. Give at
least three reasons your grievance is the worst, and
compare it to at least one other grievance.