Intro to Second Continental Congress

Second Continental Congress

Begins May 10, 1775

Independence Hall

• At the first meeting, representatives decided to meet again the next year if things did not improve.

• Not only did things not improve, violence had broken out between the colonial militia and the British Redcoat Soldiers.

• On May 10, 1775, representatives from all of the colonies met in Philadelphia once again to decide the colonies next steps.

First Steps

• The delegates elected John Hancock to be the president of the Congress.

• Even though they were divided, the Congress decided they would still try to make peace with Great Britain.

• However, with tension still very high they needed to address how to defend themselves.

Continental Army

June 14, 1775

• The British army was one of the most powerful in the world. How would the colonists meet this threat?

• The Congress created the Continental Army. They asked the militias of New England to be the first official army of the colonies.

• George Washington was chosen to be the commander of this new army.

Multiple Choice

The Second Continental Congress met in New York, New York beginning in May of 1775.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Who did the Second Continental Congress elect as their president?

• Peyton Randolph

• John Hancock

• John Adams

• George Washington

Multiple Choice

Who was chosen by the Second Continental Congress to be the general of the Continental Army?

• John Hancock

• John Adams

• Thomas Jefferson

• George Washington

Justifying their Actions

• July 6, 1775 -- Declaration of Causes

• Outlined their reasons for creating the Continental Army and defending themselves against the British.

• They included that for 10 years they had petitioned the government for representation.

Olive Branch Petition

• Two days later (July 8), the Congress finalized the Olive Brach Petition.

• A letter written directly to King George III

• It was their final attempt to make peace with the King.

• They hoped the fighting would stop and their problems would finally be fixed.

Peace Attempt Rejected

• King George III refused to even read the letter.

• He said the Congress was illegal and that the colonies were in a state of rebellion.

• King George III hired German soldiers called Hessians to go into the colonies to suppress them.

Multiple Choice

Why did the Second Continental Congress create the Declaration of Causes?

• To become an independent nation free from British rule

• To declare Great Britain in a state of rebellion

• To explain why they were creating an army

• To make peace with King George III

Multiple Choice

What was the purpose of the Olive Branch Petition?

• To declare war with Great Britain.

• To remind King George III of the colonists basic rights as human beings.

• To ask King George III for peace with the colonies.

• To let Great Britain know that they had George Washington as a commander and chief.

Multiple Select

SELECT ALL THAT ANSWER THE QUESTION: In what ways did King George III respond to the Olive Branch Petition?

• Gave the colonies their independence

• Refused to read the petition

• Took the Redcoats out of the colonies

• Declared the colonies were in a state of rebellion

• Hired Hessian soldiers to fight in the colonies

War Rages, a Nation is Born

• When the Congress learned of the King's refusal to make peace, they immediately began working on a Declaration of Independence.

• The Congress would serve as the first national government during the entire American Revolution.

• Congress still expressed their desire to avoid war, but also that Parliament had no authority in the colonies because they did not have representation.

• By July 1776, the Congress had a document ready to be signed that would officially break off the relationship with the British and create the colonies as "free and independent states."

Multiple Choice

What did the Congress start writing when they learned King George III rejected the Olive Branch Petition?

• Second Continental Congress

• Continental Army

• Declaration of Independence

• Declaration of Taking up Arms

Multiple Choice

Who is the only founding father who talked about having independence in the beginning?

• Samuel Adams

• Benjamin Franklin

• John Hancock

• George Washington

Multiple Choice

The Second Continental Congress acted as the first government for the united colonies.

• True

• False