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Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence. Chapter 6. I. War Begins. George Washington & the Continental Army John Adams proposed army made up of troops from all colonies Elected Washington as commander-in-chief Battle of Bunker Hill Minutemen erected small fort atop Breed’s Hill

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Declaration of Independence

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  1. Declaration of Independence Chapter 6

  2. I. War Begins • George Washington & the Continental Army • John Adams proposed army made up of troops from all colonies • Elected Washington as commander-in-chief • Battle of Bunker Hill • Minutemen erected small fort atop Breed’s Hill • Worried British general who ordered immediate attack • Marched 2,000 soldiers up hill • Minutemen ordered not to fire until they “saw the whites of their eyes” • Caught off guard, British regrouped and attacked again • British took hill on 3rd attack after Americans used up gunpowder • Misnamed Battle of Bunker Hill – killed 1,000 British and 500 Americans

  3. II. Siege of Boston • Ticonderoga • Washington learned army had only 36 barrels of gunpowder • Deceived British by writing false letter claiming to have 1,800 barrels • Begged the colonies for more gunpowder • Sent Henry Knox to Fort Ticonderoga for larger artillery • Loaded 59 cannons onto sled and dragged them 300 miles to Boston. • Another 42 sleds carried 2,300 lbs of lead for bullets • British Abandon Boston • March 4, 1776 – British awoke to cannons aimed at city • British abandoned – 100+ ships left harbor and headed to Canada carrying 9,000 troops and 1,100 Loyalists

  4. III. Toward Independence • Olive Branch Petition • July 1775 – Congress sent petition to king asking him to end quarrel • By time petition reached king, colonies declared to be in rebellion • Common Sense (by Thomas Paine, 1776) • mocked the idea that Americans owed any loyalty to king • Attacked argument that colonies’ ties to Britain benefited Americans • More than 120,000 copies were printed

  5. IV. Thomas Jefferson Drafts a Declaration • Committee Appointed 1. To write formal declaration of independence explaining why the colonies chose to separate from Britain • Natural Rights • All people born equal in God’s sight and are entitled to same basic rights • Governments formed to secure those rights with the power to rule coming from the governed • Failure = new government • King’s Crimes • King’s policies established tyranny over colonies • Long list of king’s abuses – unfit to be a ruler of free people BrainPOP

  6. V. The Final Break • Second Continental Congress 1. Met July 1, 1776 to debate independence • Debate Over Slavery • Most delegates liked Jefferson’s declaration except for passage on slavery • Southerners feared it might lead to demands to free the slaves • Northerners worried that New England merchants who profited from slave trade might be offended • Even those who opposed slavery felt it wrong to blame king for enslaving Africans • Independence Day • Final version approved on July 4 • Pledged to support independence with their lives, fortunes and honor • Act of treason against Britain and failure = hanging

  7. Declaration of Independence

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