The Second Continental Congress, Common Sense and the Declaration of
Independence
Second Continental Congress
• Meeting of all 13 colonies to determine how to respond to the crisis started at Lexington and Concord and increased at Bunker Hill.
• Appointed George Washington to lead the new “Continental Army” in May, 1775.
• In July, 1775, they sent the “Olive Branch Petition to King George III of England. It stated they were still loyal but needed the king to help address their disagreements with Parliament.
King George’s Response
• “Bring the traitors to justice.”
• In other words, he left the founders little choice but to go for independence.
Thomas Paine and Common Sense
• Thomas Paine was a Patriot and a gifted writer. In 1776 he published Common Sense, a pamphlet which set out reasons why the colonies should separate from England.
• It sold 120,000 copies in a few months time.
Propaganda
• Common Sense is propaganda, which is any material designed to influence your thoughts.
• In other words, change your mind.
Declaration of Independence
• Written by Thomas Jefferson and edited by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams.
Part 1: Introduction
• Introduces the idea that if you declare independence, you should explain the reasons why to the world.
Part 2: Declaration of Rights
• Sets forth the principals that the declaration is based upon.
• Borrows the ideas of natural rights, and the idea that when a government violates those rights, it can be overthrown.
Part 3: List of Grievances
• Lists the crimes of the King of England against the colonies.
• Think: Parliament passed all the laws, not the king. Why pick on the king?
Part 4: Declaration of Independence
• Declares us to be an independent country.
What does the Declaration NOT do?
• It does not ‘give us rights’.• It is not a governing document
and cannot be violated.• Anyone on TV who says our
government is based on the Declaration is a fool. It is a statement of guiding principals justifying independence. Our government is written down in the Constitution, which comes years after the end of the Revolution.
