The%20Second%20Continental%20Congress

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The Second Continental Congress
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The British Are Coming . . .
Paul Revere William Dawes make their midnight
ride to warn the Minutemen of approaching British
soldiers.
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The Shot Heard Round the World!
Lexington Concord April 18,1775
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The Atmosphere at the Meeting

• Some delegates were militant radicals
• Example John Adams
• Colonies declare independence
• Establish a Continental Army and name a general
  to lead them
• Others were more moderate
• John Dickinson wanted peaceful reconciliation
• Problem remains militia still camped around
  Boston

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Olive Branch Petition

• Colonies state loyalty to the King
• Ask for His help in ending the conflict
• King George III proclaims the Colonies in a state
  of rebellion and hires mercenaries, also
  blockades the American coast.

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Second Continental Congress (May 1775)

• Called Washington to head colonial army
• While not a military genius (he lost more battles
  than he won), he was trusted implicitly by his
  soldiers
• He refused to be paid, though his records
  indicate expenses of over 100,000
• Shrewd political choice by Congress Virginian,
  wealthy, aristocratic, above reproach

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Other Congress Measures

• Began printing paper money to pay soldiers
• Organized a committee to deal with foreign
  nations.

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• Following Bunker Hill (costly victory for
  British), King George III proclaimed colonies in
  rebellion and hired Hessians to crush rebels
• Thomas Paine published Common Sense, a pamphlet
  selling 120,000 copies.
• Appealed to natural law ("an island should not
  rule a continent")
• King George was brutish and undeserving of
  colonials' respect
• America had a moral obligation to the world to be
  independent and democratic

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• Second Continental Congress declared independence
  July 2, 1776.
• Jefferson headed the committee drafting the
  written statement. Arguments were based on John
  Locke's contract theory of government
• All people have natural rights ("Life, liberty,
  and the pursuit of happiness")
• When a government abuses rights, the people have
  a right to "alter or abolish" it
• King George has acted tyrannically. Long list of
  wrongs done by King to colonists.
• The colonies are independent.
• Declaration gave a clear position for rebellious
  colonists, forcing others to choose rebellion or
  declare as Loyalists.

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Reactions to Independence

• Public celebrations and demonstrations rang out
  through the colonies among the patriots
• The Womens reaction
• Abigail Adams took care of her children and the
  business of the farm
• Supported independence, championed womens rights
• Remember the ladies, and be more generous and
  favorable to the them than your ancestors.

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• Loyal Subjects to the King..Loyalists
• Colonial Americans opposed to independence
• Also known as Tories affiliated with the
  political party of Lord North
• Attacks made on loyalists in the colonies