The Declaration of Independence and the Continental Congress

John Hancock

The "President" or person in charge of the second continental congress.

Second Continental Congress

Met in Philadelphia May 1775. All 13 colonies were present at this meeting. (Georgia showed up late but did eventually send a delegate.) The purpose of this meeting was to: -Ask all of the 13 colonies to give war supplies, money, and troops. -Ask France to help them, because France had a Navy and were not happy with England from the French and Indian war. **** -George Washington was voted Commander in Chief of the army. This was because: ***-He was a trained soldier ***-He experienced the French and Indian war -He was from Virginia, and the thought was that voting for him would bring the "south" more into the war. ******************************************************* Most importantly the second continental congress meeting was a committee of 5 men was formed to prepare a DOCUMENT the Declaration of Independence.

First Continental Congress

Met in Philadelphia September 1774. 12 of the 13 colonies showed up, Georgia didn't. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the Intolerable acts and vote on a boycott of British goods. After the meeting the delegates sent their appeals to the "crown" but it had no effect.

Disappointment (Fourth Part)

This part of the Declaration of Independence tells how the king did not realign with the colonists. It tells how he did not fix the things he did wrong.

Charges against King George (Third Part)

This part of the Declaration of Independence tells what the king did that is unfair to the colonies. It is the largest of the five parts. What he did wrong.

Preamble (Second Part)

This part of the document makes claims towards the rights that people have and what rights they should have, they were the British philosopher, John Locke's, ideas (Unalienable rights). This is believed to be the most important part of the Declaration of Independence.

Declaring of Independence (Fifth and Last Part)

This part, which is the last part, of the Declaration of Independence tells how there are situations that exist where people must change their government.

Opening Sentence (First Part)

This says why the Document, the Declaration of Independence, was written.

Broadside

A poster sized document that would be shown or paced on the "broadside" of a building.

"...are created equal..."

Implying that congress believed in a higher aw, higher than the king's, and that the king and his people were equal under this law.

"All Men..."

At the time when the declaration was written power was given only to free land owning men.

John Dunlop

He was the official printer, or "Broadside" maker. He printed 200 official copies of the Declaration of Independence, called "Dunlop Broadsides"**

"...just powers..."

The authority given to the government.

'...endowed by their creator..."

The creator was known at the time to be God.

"...consent of the governed..."

The permission given to the government by the people to protect their rights.

"...life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness..."

The rights with which all people are born with and these rights should never be taken away. (John Locke)

The Declaration of Independence

The second continental congress appointed five men to create, and draft the document on June 11, 1776. Thomas Jefferson was the author, He recieved input from John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. The two other men were Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman although they did not do much of anything. June 28, 1776 the five men presented the document to congress it was called: "A Declaration by te Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled." On July 2, 1776 congress had voted to declare independence. On July 4, 1776 congress voted to accept the final draft of the document and the Declaration began being signed. The Declaration can broken into 5 main parts.

"...to institute a new government...:

meant that the colonies were using their right to free themselves from England, and were now going to be known as a new government.