Origins of American Government
Name: ___________________________
The British Colonies and the Continental Congress
Essential Questions
1. Why did the British Colonies form the Continental Congress in the 1770s?
Vocabulary
Declaration of Independence
Second Continental Congress
Stamp Act
Stamp Act Congress
I. Great Britain and the 13 Colonies (1600s – 1760s)
A. British Colonial Policy
* The “American” colonists as ENGLISHMEN
* FEDERAL system of self-governance in the COLONIES – Why?
B. The French and Indian War, 1754 – 1763
C. King George III (1760) and Raising Revenue
* Stamp Act, 1765 – Stamp Act Congress
* Tea Act, 1773 – Boston Tea Party, 1773
* Intolerable Acts, 1774
II. The First Continental Congress (Sept. – Oct. 1774)
A. What was the Continental Congress?
B. What was the goal of the Continental Congress? What did it hope to achieve?
III. The Second Continental Congress (May 1775 – July 1776)
A. Why did the Continental Congress meet again in Philadelphia?
B. Accomplishments of the Second Continental Congress:
1.) Created the _______________________________ and elected _______________________________ as
Commander-in-Chief!
2.) Coined _________________ – aka the “Continental”
3.) Drafted and adopted the ____________________________ of ____________________________!
4.) Drafted and adopted the ____________________________ of ____________________________!
* BIG IDEA: The Second Continental Congress served as our country’s FIRST system of unified government! *
Continental Congress Timeline
1774
(Sept.)
1775
(April)
1775
(May)
1775
(June)
1776
(July 2)
1776
(July 4)
1776
(Aug.)
1777
(Nov.)
1781
(Mar.)
1787
(May)
1787
(Sept.)
First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia
Revolutionary War begins at the Battles of Lexington and Concord
Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia
Second Continental Congress established the Continental Army
The Lee Resolution was adopted, asserting the independence of the colonies from Britain
Final text of the Declaration of Independence was approved by Second Continental Congress
Declaration of Independence signed in Congress
Articles of Confederation are issued to the states for approval
Articles of Confederation go into effect, Second Continental Congress becomes the Congress of
the Confederation
Philadelphia Convention convenes
Philadelphia Convention adjourns after writing the United States Constitution
* March 4, 1789 – First session of the 1st United States Congress begins at Federal Hall in New York, City! *