Guided Reading 3.3-3.4
Start on page 164 “The Fighting Continues” and Read to fill in blanks
Even though the first shots had already been fired at ___________________ and __________________ in
Massachusetts, many still hoped to avoid a complete break with England. In a last attempt to avoid war,
colonists sent King George the ________________________________. They asked him to repeal the
__________________ Acts. Instead, he sent ______________________ to crush the colonial revolt.
To prepare for pending war, the Continental Congress decided to set up the Continental Army. They appointed
_____________________________ as the commander. The people who wanted war against Britain were
known as _______________. Only about ______________ of the colonists were Patriots. They had many
disadvantages going into the war. They were poorly organized and ___________________. They had few
___________, little _____________ and no ________________. However, they most important advantage
they had was they were determined to fight to defend their _____________________________. This was
helpful because they were fighting highly trained, experienced troops with the best ___________ in the world.
The British had many colonists who supported them. American colonists who remained loyal to Britain were
knows as _______________________. Many of these people had to leave their homes because Patriots
_________________________ people known to favor the British.
Although the colonists lost the battle of ___________________, the first MAJOR battle of the Revolution, they
proved they would fight bravely. After this battle, the Green Mountain Boys (a militia from Vermont) brought
a captured cannon and supplies to George Washington in ______________. Once the British general saw the
American cannons in place, he and his troops sailed to ____________________. After King _____________
found out the troops had not held Boston, he ordered a ____________________ to shut the port and used
troops for hire from ___________________ to fight the colonists.
Even though the war had already started, many colonists were reluctant to cut their ties with Britain. They
remained loyal to the king. In order to convince them to declare independence, Thomas Paine wrote a
pamphlet called __________________________. He said colonists did now owe ____________ to King George
or any other _____________. The very idea of having _________________ and queens was _____________.
Read the quote from Common Sense on page 170 and answer the following questions.
What did Thomas Paine think the King of England was doing?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
What did Thomas Paine think was more valuable than the “crowned ruffian”?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Start on page 170 “Choosing Independence” and Read to fill in blanks.
Common Sense convinced many colonists that independence from England was the right thing to do. The
delegates to the Continental Congress also believed it was time for independence.
____________________________________ introduced a resolution in favor of separating from England.
Delegates knew declaring independence made them _______________________ and they would be hung if
they were caught. Even knowing this, they appointed a ____________________ to draw up a formal
declaration of independence.
Who served on the committee?
________________________________________________________________________
This document would tell the world why the colonists were _______________________ from Britain. They
asked ______________________________ to write the document. He was one of the youngest
________________________.
In July of 1776, the Continental Congress voted the 13 colonies to be ____________ and
______________________. ___________________________ signed the Declaration first (since he was the
president of the Continental Congress).
The Declaration of Independence consists of a ___________________ or introduction and _________ main
parts.
The first section of the Declaration stressed the idea of _________________ rights (also called unalienable
rights). These are rights that belong to all _______________ from birth. People form _________________ in
order to protect their _________________ rights. If a government fails to protect _________________, then
people have the right to _________________ such a government.
Read the quote on page 172 and answer the question.
What are three examples of unalienable rights?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
The second part of the Declaration lists the ______________ that led Americans to break away from
______________. Jefferson condemned King George from __________________ colonial legislatures and for
_________________ to the colonies in ________________.
The last part of the Declaration announces that the colonies are the
_________________________________________. All ______________ ties with ________________ have
been cut.