Colonists bought over 100,000 copies within a few months.

1. In January of 1776 an Englishman named Thomas Paine published a small book called Common Sense. The book said all kings in general, especially George III of England, were bad. The book also stated that America must be free to make its own way. This book became a best-seller. It made Americans believe that America should be a free and independent nation. Colonists bought over 100,000 copies within a few months. Thomas Paine put into writing what many of the Patriots were already saying. He wrote that colonists had nothing to gain and much to lose by staying tied to an unjust King.

2. Delegates to the Continental Congress had read Common Sense. Many agreed that independence from Britain was necessary. However this was very risky. Britain was a powerful country. King George III was already gathering soldiers to attack the colonies.

3. Who Would win the War?

4. In May of 1775 the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. Many thought the fighting was only a New England War. They thought it wouldn't reach the other colonies. Congress voted to ask each of the Thirteen Colonies to give war supplies and troops. They also voted to ask France to help. George Washington was voted Commander-in-Chief of the new Colonial army. Washington was chosen because he was a trained soldier. He had fought in the French and Indian War. Also Washington was from Virginia in the South. Many thought this would bring the South into the war. While the colonists were gathering some militia, King George was doing some planning of his own. King George hired soldiers from Germany called Hessians. The British paid the Prince of Hesse $500,000 a year plus $35 for each Hessian killed and $12 for each wounded. Unfortunately the money was not given to the soldiers. It was spent to help Germany's economy and even to build elaborate palaces.

5. Life During the War Colonists had difficult choices about whether to support Britain or the United States, or not to take sides at all. Almost half of all Americans chose the side of the Patriots. Remember, a patriot was someone who wanted independence for the colonies. A loyalist was someone who was still loyal to the king. Many loyalists disagreed with how King George III governed the colonies, but they wanted America to be part of Britain. The rest of Americans were neutral. To be neutral means to not take sides.

6. Life as a Loyalist If you were a loyalist, you may have had different reasons for being one. Most soldiers working for the British government were Loyalists because they would lose their jobs if the Patriots won the war. Many wealthy business men feared that war would hurt their business so they supported Britain. Many enslaved African Americans became loyalists. They were offered freedom if they helped the British. A few fought in the British army.

7. More American Indians agreed to help the British than to help the Patriots. The Cherokee Indians hoped that they British would win the war and stop settlers and colonists from taking their land. Mohawk leader Joseph Brant also urged his people to side with the British. Most American Indians stayed neutral during the war. Only 2 tribes fought with the Patriots.

8. Patriots found many ways to support the cause of Independence. Some joined militia groups and fought the British. Patriots who did not want to fight gave support in other ways. One such person was Haym Salomon. He was a banker from Philadelphia to lent money to the militia groups and helped buy supplies. Patriots also offered freedom to Enslaved Africans if they would join the militia and fight for the Patriots. About 5,000 Africans joined the militia.

9. Declaration of Independence In 1776, soon after the beginning of the American Revolutionary War, the leaders of the war got together to write a letter to the King of England. They wanted to explain why they were fighting to be their own country, independent of England. They called it the Declaration of Independence.

10. Within the Declaration of Independence, the writers stated that: • That all men are created equal • That all men have some rights given to them by God • That among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Declaration also stated that King George III was taking away their rights and forcing unfair taxes on them.

11. The Writers of the Declaration also stated that the king of England has done many bad things to them - here is a list: • He won't let us pass laws we need for everybody's good. • Even when we do pass laws, he won't sign them so they can go into effect. • He tried to force men to give up their right to make laws. • He calls men together to make laws in the most inconvenient times and places, so that they won't be able to go discuss the new laws. • He won't let new settlers come to America, and he won't let the settlers take over new land from the Native Americans. • He won't let us choose our own judges, and instead he chooses them all himself, so they're all on his side. • He sends lots of new government officials that we don't want, and he makes us pay for them. • He sends lots of English soldiers here when there isn't even a war, and makes us let them live in our own houses. • He tells us these soldiers can do whatever they want and don't have to obey the law. • He won't let us buy and sell things from wherever we want. We can only buy things from England. • He makes us pay all kinds of taxes without asking us about it. • He won't let us have a jury for our trials, only a judge. • He sends people accused of crimes far away to England for their trials. • He tries to get people to revolt and tries to get the “Indian Savages" to attack us.

12. On June 11, 1776, the Second Continental Congress appointed a committee of five men to write a Declaration of Independence from British Rule. Those five men were Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. Because of his beautiful handwriting, Thomas Jefferson was selected to be the main writer of the Declaration of Independence.

14. The committee declared it to be almost perfect. The committee presented the document to the Congress after making a few corrections. Following a few more changes, Thomas Jefferson's work was approved. Church bells rang out on July 4, 1776, the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted and our nation was officially born. However the Declaration of Independence alone did not free us from British control….the patriots still needed to win the war!!