Unit 3.5 - Events Before the War

What were some causes of the Declaration of Independence?

- Colonists are angered by the new taxes Parliament passed. - King George III ignored the Olive Branch Petition that the Continental Congress sent - Thomas Paine writes Common Sense arguing that the colonists should stop being a part of Great Britain. - Hostilities break into war on April 19, 1775 at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts.

What were some effects of the Declaration of Independence?

- The dispute between England and her colonies is no longer viewed as a civil war but as a war between two independent countries. - Other countries seeking independence from monarchs and/or colonial rule use the document as an example for their own independence. - The war lasts another five years and ends with the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781. - The Treaty of Paris is signed in 1783, making America an independent nation.

Why did George Washington lie and say that he had a large supply of gunpowder in Boston?

At Lexington, the British destroyed the colonists' weapons by lighting them on fire. George Washington wanted to trap the British in Boston by luring them there. The British thought they had a lot of weapons, so they went to Boston to destroy them. This gave Washington enough time to acquire gunpowder from the other colonies to attack the British.

What does the following excerpt mean? "Small islands, not capable of protecting themselves, are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care; but there is something absurd, in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island." ― Thomas Paine, Common Sense

By joining together, the colonies are not only larger, but stronger and it is ridiculous to think we need to be governed by someone other than ourselves.

According to the Declaration of Independence, where does the government get its power from?

Governments get their power from the people because they are created for the people.

What does the following excerpt mean? "An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot." ― Thomas Paine, Common Sense

Ideas/ethics are stronger than soldiers.

What does the following excerpt mean? "Could the straggling thoughts of individuals be collected, they would frequently form materials for wise and able men to improve into useful matter." ― Thomas Paine, Common Sense

If all the ideas of each person were to be put together, we could make a change to improve our current condition of government.

What were the three things King George III was accused of doing to the colonists in the Declaration of Independence?

Illegally assuming judicial power, not allowing representative legislatures, and imposing unfair taxes.

What was the Battle of Bunker Hill?

In 1775, the Massachusetts militia and British troops fought outside of Boston. The British planned to fight on Bunker Hill, but the colonists met them at Breed's Hill instead.

Why is the Declaration of Independence considered a revolutionary document?

It's the first time that it's stated that all men are created equal and that governments get their power from the people.

What was Common Sense?

January 1776 - Written by Thomas Paine, this pamphlet clearly explained the problems between the colonies and that it was common sense for the colonies to separate from England. The main message was the break up with England.

What was the Olive Branch Petition?

July 1775 - Nothing happened happened for a while after Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill, so the colonists were not sure if they were still at war with Britain. The 2nd Continental Congress sent this as an offer of peace to Britain.

What was the Declaration of Independence?

July 4, 1776 - The colonists' break up letter with England. Explains the reasons for the colonists' actions (grievances) and includes ideas from Enlightenment philosophers like John Locke.

Why didn't the Olive Branch Petition work?

Peace was not achieved because it didn't get there in time. King George had already sent troops to the colonists to "bring them to justice." He never reads the letter.

Who won the Battle of Bunker Hill?

The colonists won two of the three battles, but they ran out of weapons. The British won the third attack and therefore won this battle.

What does the following excerpt mean? "Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, which we might expect in a country without government, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer..." ― Thomas Paine, Common Sense

The government is necessary, but also the source of a country's problems.

What does the following excerpt from the Declaration of Independence mean? "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

These facts are obvious: Everyone is the same, and they are given by God rights that cannot be taken away. These rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To protect these rights, people established governments, who get their power from the people.

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson

Despite losing the Battle of Bunker Hill, why did the colonists feel confident moving forward in the war?

Though the colonists lost the battle, it was only because they ran out of weapons. They inflicted huge losses on the British (killed more people), lost only a quarter of their people, and won two out of the three battles.

What does the following excerpt mean? "Most nations have let slip the opportunity, and by that means have been compelled to receive laws from their conquerors, instead of making laws for themselves. First, they had a king, and then a form of government; whereas, the articles or charter of government, should be formed first, and men delegated to execute them afterwards: but from the errors of other nations, let us learn wisdom, and lay hold of the present opportunity" ― Thomas Paine, Common Sense

We need to learn from the mistakes of other countries who have allowed themselves to be ruled by a King and not the people.

What does the following excerpt mean? "In the early ages of the world, according to the scripture chronology, there were no kings; the consequence of which was there were no wars; it is the pride of kings which throws mankind into confusion." ― Thomas Paine, Common Sense

When there are no kings, there are no wars.

What does the following excerpt mean? "A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason." ― Thomas Paine, Common Sense

When we do something the same way for a long time, we think that's right. When that way is challenged, people get angry. Over time, people begin to see the reasoning behind the change.