Activities of the 2nd Continental Congress
1775-1783
Attendees of Note:
Ben Franklin, John Dickinson,
John Adams, Samuel Adams,
John Hancock, Richard H. Lee,
Thomas Jefferson, Edward
Rutledge, Roger Sherman
Seek Reconciliation
“Olive Branch Petition”(1775)
Declare Independence
Agreement by Colonies
Resolution in Congress
Draft /Revise Declaration
Approval in Congress
Public Proclamation
Function as Central Government
Oversee
War Efforts
“Declaration
of the Causes
and
Necessity of
Taking Up
Arms”
(1775)
George
Washington
Print $ / Raise $
Pay for Rev. War
Engage in
Diplomacy
with other
countries:
France and
Spain
Establish National Government
Draft and Ratify
Articles of Confederation (1781)
Activities of the 2nd Continental Congress
1775-1783
“The Olive Branch
Petition” to King
George III
1775
Attached to your Majesty's person, family and government with all
the devotion that principle and affection can inspire, connected with
Great Britain by the strongest ties that can unite societies, and
deploring every event that tends in any degree to weaken them, we
solemnly assure your Majesty, that we not only most ardently
desire the former harmony between her and these colonies may
be restored but that a concord may be established between them
upon so firm a basis, as to perpetuate its blessings uninterrupted
by any future dissentions to succeeding generations.
Activities of the 2nd Continental Congress
1775-1783
“Declaration of the
Causes &
Necessity of Taking
Up Arms” 1775
The Legislature of Great-Britain, attempted to effect their cruel and
impolitic Purpose of enslaving these Colonies by Violence, and have
thereby rendered it necessary for us to close with their last Appeal from
Reason to Arms….In our own native Land, in defence of the Freedom that
is our Birthright, and which we ever enjoyed till the late Violation of it—
for the protection of our Property, acquired solely by the honest Industry
of our fore-fathers and ourselves, against Violence actually offered, we
have taken up Arms. We shall lay them down when Hostilities shall cease
on the part of the Aggressors, and all danger of their being renewed shall
be removed, and not before.
The King’s Response to
The Olive Branch Petition
Activities of the 2nd Continental Congress
1775-1783
No Reconciliation!
Laying the
Groundwork for
Independence
Continental
Congressmen had
to return to
Colonies to secure
the agreement of
each Colony’s
legislative body
Continental
Congressmen had to
manage the Loyalists
– those colonists who
wanted to remain
subjects of King
George
Huge propaganda
campaign against
the Crown and for
Independence:
Cartoons, Posters,
Newspaper stories /
editorials; Songs
Firing Up the People:
The Influence of Thomas
Paine and Common Sense
January 1776
“I offer nothing more than simple facts,
plain arguments, and common sense”
Activities of the 2nd Continental Congress
1775-1783
The Resolution to
be Free: Richard
Henry Lee on
June 7, 1776
Resolved: 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.
Activities of the 2nd Continental Congress
1775-1783
Committee of 5 is
Selected to Draft
a Declaration of
Intent, June 1776
John Adams
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson
Robert Livingston
Roger Sherman
Writing the Declaration of Independence
Committee of 5
nominates
Thomas Jefferson
to write the Draft
June 7 – 28
Thomas Jefferson on his intent:
“It was intended to be an
expression of the American mind,
and to give to that expression the
proper tone and spirit called for by
the occasion.”
Writing the Declaration of Independence
First Revision: Ben
Franklin &
John Adams refine
Jefferson’s draft
Writing the Declaration of Independence
Presenting the
Final Draft to the
Continental
Congress, June 28
“The Table Draft”
Laid in the
Congressional
Chambers for for three
days (June 28-July 1) so
members of the
Congress could read
and ponder its words
Debating the Declaration of Independence
The Final Debate
in Congress: John
Dickinson vs.
John Adams
July 1, 1776
Celebrating the Vote for Independence
The Vote that
Created a New
Nation,
July 2, 1776
Letter from John Adams to his wife, Abigail
Yesterday, the greatest question was
decided, which ever was debated in
America, and a greater, perhaps, never was
nor will be decided among men. A
resolution was passed without one
dissenting colony, … You will see in a few
days a Declaration setting forth the causes
which have impelled us to this mighty
revolution, and the reasons which will
justify it in the sight of God and man.
Time has been given for the whole people
maturely to consider the great question of
independence, and to ripen their judgment,
dissipate their fears, and allure their hopes, by
discussing it in newspapers and pamphlets, by
debating it in assemblies, conventions,
committees of safety and inspection, in town
and county meetings, as well as in private
conversations, so that the whole people, in
every colony of the thirteen, have now
adopted it as their own act. This will cement
the union…
Debating the Declaration of Independence
Debating the Final
Revisions to the
Declaration,
July 2-3
Revising the Declaration of Independence:
Cooperative Group Activity
Signing the Declaration of Independence
The Signing of the
Declaration of
Independence,
July 4, 1776