Towards Independence: Second Continental Congress of 1775

2. Moving Towards Independence Chapter 5 Sect 4

4. Second Continental Congress May 10, 1775 Philadelphia Candidates from all 13 colonies

5. Second Continental Congress • Delegates include • John and Samuel Adams • Patrick Henry • Richard Henry Lee • George Washington • *Ben Franklin • *John Hancock • *Thomas Jefferson

6. Franklin…err not this Franklin

7. Benjamin Franklin • One of the most accomplished members of the PA legislature • Acted as a colonial spokesman in London

8. John Hancock • 38 years old • One of the wealthiest Colonists • Chosen as president of the Second Continental Congress

9. Thomas Jefferson • Only 32 years old • Brilliant thinker and writer • Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses

10. The Congress becomes a Government The second continental congress began to govern the colonies Printed its own money, starts its own post office Created the Continental Army; the army needed a commander

11. On John Adams recommendation, George Washington was unanimously chosen Washington had more military experience than any other American He offered to serve without pay

12. What things did the 2nd Continental Congress do?

14. The Olive Branch Petition • What does the Olive Branch Represent?

15. The Olive Branch Petition After Washington left to take charge of the Patriot forces, the colonies allowed Britain one last chance to avoid all out war Petition- or formal request Called for peace and acknowledgement of the Colonists’ rights George III refused to receive the petition and hired 30,000 German troops

16. Americans vs. British • Washington • Very old and the very young • Highly motivated • Poorly trained • No leadership • No organization • No discipline • Sir William Howe • Hired soldiers • German mercenaries • Highly trained • Motivated by money only • Fighting on foreign territory

18. British were said to attack New York Patriots leave Fort Ticonderoga and attack Montreal first Led by Benedict Arnold, the attack failed and the Patriot forces retreat to Quebec

19. Benedict Arnold • Was rich, now in debt • Doubted they would win against the British • For what reason would we call people today Benedict Arnold?

20. Moving Towards Independence Thomas Paine wrote a novel, Common Sense He stated that it was “common sense” to break away from the “royal brute” King George III

21. Paine's Arguments against British rule It was ridiculous for an island to rule a continent. America was not a "British nation"; it was composed of influences and peoples from all of Europe, Even if Britain was the "mother country" of America, that made her actions all the more horrendous, for no mother would harm her children so brutally. Being a part of Britain would drag America into unnecessary European wars, and keep it from the international commerce at which America excelled. The distance between the two nations made the governing the colonies from England unwieldy. If some wrong were to be petitioned to Parliament, it would take a year before the colonies received a response. The New World was discovered shortly after the Reformation. The Puritans believed that God wanted to give them a safe haven from the persecution of British rule. Britain ruled the colonies for its own benefit, and did not consider the best interests of the colonists in governing them.