Should the Colonies Declare Independence?
Historical Committee (2nd Continental Congress) –– Noah Bokat-Lindell and Rachel Bradford, Chairs
The 2nd Continental Congress did not plan on declaring independence from England. In fact, the
Congress sent King George III the Olive Branch Petition in 1775, hoping for a swift reconciliation with
England after the fighting that had broken out between British troops and American Minutemen in
Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. While the Continental Congress had created a Continental
Army and dispatched George Washington to lead it, many members of Congress had no desire to sever
America’s ties with Great Britain. They believed that the Continental Army was fighting merely to
defend America from British aggression, nothing more. A few delegates, however, were intent on
gaining American independence. Leading the charge for independence in Congress was John Adams of
Massachusetts, joined by Dr. Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and both Thomas Jefferson and
Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.
The reasons for wanting to declare independence were many. The British had imposed a series of
taxes on the American colonies after decades of salutary neglect (theoretically, there were taxes and
laws that England had that affected the American colonies, but in practice England left its colonies
alone). After the end of the Seven Years’ War, known in the colonies as the French and Indian War, in
1763, the British began taxing the colonists to help pay for the British troops that were garrisoned in the
colonies, supposedly for the Americans’ protection. Eventually, as the colonists began to defy the
British efforts at tax collection, the British quartered soldiers in American homes without their consent
in times of peace. The American cry of “no taxation without representation” was not heeded in England.
Parliament also took away the right of trial by jury in certain states, and the Intolerable Acts that were
passed in retaliation for the Boston Tea Party closed the port of Boston and reduced Massachusetts’ right
of self-government. King George declared the colonies in rebellion on April 23, 1775. The colonies of
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Virginia, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, and New Hampshire were
in favor of independence.
However, there were also many reasons why some colonies opposed independence. Maryland
was afraid that independence could not be taken from the British; England had at the time the most
powerful army and navy in the world. Many other colonies felt no reason to sever their ties with
England. The rights violations occurring in New England were not occurring in the middle and southern
colonies. In addition, many Americans felt great pride in being citizens of what was widely considered
the greatest empire in the world. They did not want to give up that privilege to fight a war they felt they
could not win. Also, many of the delegates to the Continental Congress were wealthy aristocrats who did
not want to see their property taken threatened by the chaos that they believed would result from
revolution. The southern states did not want to rush to war, but rather wanted to wait longer and attempt
a reconciliation with England. But perhaps the most important reason for opposing independence was
the fact that no colony had ever broken off from its mother country before. It was a new concept that
those unhappy with their current form of government could revolt and form a new one. There was great
fear, well justified, that the colonists would be committing treason by declaring independence. If they
were to lose, the delegates of the Congress would more than likely be hanged as traitors. The fiery lead
Pennsylvania delegate, John Dickinson, led the fight against independence. Maryland, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, and certain delegates from other colonies also opposed independence. New
York, having received no instructions from its legislature in regards to independence, abstained on any
votes dealing with the issue.
The Continental Congress decided that any resolution regarding independence needed to be
approved unanimously, without any colony voting against it. On July 2, 1776, the 2nd Continental
Congress approved Richard Henry Lee’s resolution for independence. But it could have turned out quite
differently. We will be simulating that tenuous debate over independence in the 2nd Continental
Congress, free to choose a different path from the actual historical outcome. Will we declare
independence from England, or will we stay tethered to our mother country and attempt to negotiate a
peace? It’s up to you.
A Resolution on Independence
Whereas these colonies have been abused by King George III and his Parliament for over a decade;
Whereas Parliament has taxed these fair colonies without the consent of its people, who are not
represented in the British Parliament;
Whereas the right to trial by jury has, in many cases, been denied the people of these colonies;
Whereas British troops have been quartered in our homes without our consent in times of peace;
Whereas King George and his Parliament have attempted to deny the people of these colonies of its
unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;
Whereas a people have a right to overthrow a government that does not protect its natural rights and
institute a new government in its place;
Whereas it would be necessary for the colonies, upon declaring independence, to seek the support of
powerful allies such as Spain or France;
Whereas a new form of government must of necessity be created to manage the new country that shall
be created once the independence of these United Colonies is agreed to by this Congress;
Resolved by the Congress of the United Colonies,
1.
That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that
they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection
between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.
2.
That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign
Alliances.
3.
That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their
consideration and approbation.