The Continental Congress Short Video https wwwyoutubecomwatchvhbKHPLbuLw0 From 1774 to 1789 the Continental Congress served as the government of the 13 American colonies and later the United States ID: 643515
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Slide1
A Nation declares independenceSlide2
The Continental Congress
Short
Video:
https
://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbKHPLbuLw0
From 1774 to 1789, the Continental Congress served as the government of the 13 American colonies and later the United States. The First Continental Congress:Was made up of delegates from the coloniesMet in 1774 in reaction to the Intolerable Acts, a series of measures imposed by the British government on the colonies in response to their resistance to new taxes
What does “delegate” mean? Why was it
Important to have delegates from each colony
?
a person sent or authorized to represent others, in particular an elected representative sent to a conference.Slide3
Common sense – Thomas Paine
Short video:
http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/american-revolution-history/videos/thomas-paine
Published in 1776,
Common Sense
challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. The plain language that Paine used spoke to the common people of America and was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain.Think: Why do you think Paine called his work “Common Sense?” What does it mean to use plain language?Slide4
The Virginia Resolution
“These colonies are, and of right ought to be, independent states.” – Richard Henry Lee
Paine’s
pamphlet increased support for independence
within the Continental
CongressBefore voting on Lee’s resolution, congress appointed a committee to draw up a statement stating the reasons for separation from Britain33-year-old Thomas Jefferson was given the task of composing the documentSlide5
The Declaration of Independence
4 Parts:
The preamble
The Declaration of natural rights
The list of grievances
Resolution of independenceShort video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKJMWHCUoiwSlide6
Part 1:
The Preamble: Reasons for Writing the Declaration
States that
the document will explain
to the world the reasons why the colonists feel
impelled (driven) to separate from Great BritainSlide7
Your Turn: Re-write the Preamble!Slide8
Part 2:
Protection of natural Rights
If a government fails to protect people’s
natural rights (basic rights)
, the people have a right to reject it and create another.
Protection to basic rights are unalienable (cannot be taken away)Colonists feel that the king’s repeated usurpations (unjust uses of power) are a form of despotism (dictatorship)Slide9
Your Turn: Re-write the Protection of natural rights!Slide10
Part 3:
List of Grievances against the King
King George has violated colonists’ rights and ignored their petitions
The list
details the colonists’ complaints against the British government, King George III in
particular:The colonists have no say in determining the laws that govern themThe colonists refuse to relinquish (give up) the right to representationThere are no elections; therefore, colonists are unable to protect themselves from convulsions (riots)Foreigners are unable to become citizensThe king alone determines how long a judge’s term will beColonists have been lodging troops in their homesThe king took the rights of the people in Canada away; fear he could do the same in the coloniesThe king hired mercenaries (soldiers) to bring death and destruction to the colonists (the king is cruel)The colonists have tried to repeatedly petition the king to redress (correct) his wrongs, but they have been ignoredBECAUSE OF THE WAY THE KING TREATS HIS SUBJECTS, HE IS NOT FIT TO RULE A FREE PEOPLESlide11
Your Turn: Re-write the list of Grievances!Slide12
Part 4:
Declaring Independence
Therefore, the colonies declare their independence from Great Britain.
The colonists have proven their rectitude (justness) of their cause.Slide13
Your Turn: declare independence!Slide14
Impact of the Declaration
July 4, 1776 – Congress approved the Declaration (actual signing was August 2)
No longer were Patriots fighting for fairer treatment from Britain – now they were fighting for a new nation (no turning back!)
The statement, “all men are created equal” still inspires people in nations all over the world.