Te colonists formed special committees to protest against the Townshend duties. To prevent unrest, the British government sent more troops to North America. More than 4,000 soldiers were sent to Bos- ton alone. Te government quartered these troops in colonists’ homes. To “quarter” means to send soldiers to live in private citizens’ homes. Te home- owner was expected to provide food and lodging to each soldier free of charge. Parliament fnally repealed the hated Townshend Colonists dressed as Indians throw tea into Boston Harbor duties. However, it passed a new tax on tea in their place. A British ship carrying tea arrived in Boston Harbor in December 1773. A group of colonists,

© FTE • Unlawful to photocopy without permission Intolerable Acts. Boston Harbor was closed. Te dressed as American Indians, boarded the ship at Massachusetts legislature was suspended (tempo- night and threw its chests of tea into the harbor in rarily closed). Te British government assumed the protest. Tis event became known as the “Boston power to appoint all ofcials in Massachusetts until Tea Party.” the tea was paid for. Royal ofcials would no longer Te British government was greatly outraged at this be tried for crimes in the colonies, but in Great destruction of property. Parliament passed the Britain.

The Outbreak of the Revolution

Twelve of the thirteen colonies sent representatives Philadelphia. The Second Continental Congress to Philadelphia to meet as a “Continental Con- began its meetings on May 10, 1775. Most of the gress” in September 1774. Te Congress assembled, delegates from the other colonies strongly sup- sent protests to Britain, and agreed on a colonial ported the decision of Massachusetts to resist the boycott of British goods. Its members decided that British. They encouraged the other colonies to another Continental Congress should be held in join in the struggle. May 1775. Ten they went home. Te Continental Congress Meanwhile, American “Patriots” organized in Bos- formed its own army, known as ton. Tey collected guns and ammunition. Te the “Continental Army.” Next Governor of Massachusetts sent soldiers to seize it chose George Washing- colonial leaders and arms just outside Boston. Brit- ton, a Virginian, to ish troops and armed colonists fred on one another command it. Washing- at Lexington and Concord in April 1775. Te ton was an experienced American Revolution had begun! commander from the French and Indian War. The Second Continental Congress was about to meet. Many of the delegates to the Second Conti- nental Congress were already on their way to George Washington, age 40

22 Chapter 2 | Americans Declare Their Independence The Question of American Independence

Even afer the outbreak of fghting, most colonists Great Britain. Paine urged the colonists to seek still wanted to remain as British subjects. Many of independence. them had relatives in Great Britain. Others traded In March 1776, General Washington and his goods with Britain. Most saw themselves as loyal troops drove the British out of Boston. Washing- subjects of the King, who were resisting the unfair ton then moved his army to New York City. How- policies of his ministers. ever, with the help of their feet of ships, the British On July 6, 1775, the Continental Congress issued a were able to land troops on nearby Long Island. “Declaration on the Necessity of Taking Up Arms.” Washington lost battles on Long Island and in Te purpose of this document was to explain why New York City that summer and fall. Washington the colonists were resisting the British government. retreated across the Delaware River, but was able Te declaration contained a long list of colonial to defeat British forces in December 1776 at the grievances. But it emphasized that the colonists Battle of Trenton. were not seeking independence: “We have not raised armies with ambitious designs of separating Most colonists now felt that Britain had abused from Great Britain and establishing Independent them. Tey disliked British taxes, placed on them States.” Two days later, the Continental Congress without their consent. Even more, they resented the sent a petition to the King of Great Britian. Te col- use of armed force. More and more colonists agreed onists asked the King for reconciliation and peace. with Tomas Paine that they should end their con- nection with Great Britain. Tey wanted to free King George III refused to receive the colonists’ themselves from British rule. petition. Instead, he told Parliament that the colo- nies were in open rebellion. Te King accused the Many colonists also believed that they could not colonists of planning to separate from Britain. Par- obtain allies (countries that agree to act together) in liament passed an act prohibiting all trade with the Europe so long as they remained subjects of the Brit- colonists until the rebellion was crushed. Te King ish King. Only by becoming independent could they declared the rebellious colonists to be outside of the ever hope to conclude alliances with foreign powers, scope of his protection. All American ships, ports like France and Spain. Tey needed the help of these and sailors became subject to capture and forfeit. foreign powers to win the revolutionary war. Te Second Continental Congress began debating Te King also sent more troops to America to fght © FTE • Unlawful to photocopy without permission the colonists. His forces included foreign merce- the question of American independence naries—hired soldiers—from Germany. Tese steps early in 1776. greatly infuriated the colonists. John Adams, a lawyer from Massa- In January 1776, Tomas Paine chusetts, was the strongest voice for published his pamphlet, Com- independence. Adams persuaded mon Sense. As you learned in the many of the other delegates to vote last chapter, Paine argued that in favor of separating from the colonists received little ben- England. eft from their connection with John Adams

Chapter 2 | Americans Declare Their Independence 23 In June 1776, Richard Henry Lee, a Virginian, introduced a resolution proposing independence:

Resolved, Tat these United Colonies are, and of right Word Helper A ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolve = to release or set free absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and allegiance = loyalty to a superior that all political connection between them and the British Crown = the King State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally connection = a link or formal association dissolved. dissolved = ended or eliminated

A special committee of fve members was formed to Adams and Benjamin Franklin. Jeferson wrote the write a declaration explaining and justifying this frst draf of the Declaration using parts of other © FTE • Unlawful to photocopy without permission decision to other colonists and to the rest of the documents he had written earlier for Virginia and world. A young Virginian, Tomas Jeferson, was the Continental Congress. Te Declaration was later the main author of the frst draf of the Declaration. revised by the committee and then by the Continen- Two other members of the committee were John tal Congress itself.

The Active Citizen

Imagine it is early in 1776. Your class should be divided into diferent groups, representing the difer- ent colonies at the Second Continental Congress. Hold a debate on whether or not the colonies should declare their independence from Great Britain. Ten take a class vote.

The Declaration of Independence

You probably have already heard of the Declaration 2. It proclaimed a theory of government based on of Independence. It was signed on July 4th—still natural law and the protection of individual rights. our national holiday. Every year we celebrate the 3. It listed the grievances of the colonists against signing of the Declaration with parades, speeches King George III and the British government. and freworks. But what makes this document so very special to Americans? 4. It justifed the conduct of the colonists, both to their fellow countrymen and to the rest of the Te Declaration of Independence actually accom- world. plished fve things: 5. It announced the arrival of the United States 1. It declared American independence. It boldly as an independent and equal member of the stated that the colonies were no longer part international community, able to wage war of the British Empire, and that the former and to make alliances. Tis cleared the way for colonists were no longer subjects of King the former colonies to conclude alliances with George III. France and Spain.

24 Chapter 2 | Americans Declare Their Independence It can be difcult to understand a document that was quartering troops in colonists’ homes written more than 200 years ago. But the Declaration making judges dependent on the King’s will of Independence has been so infuential, both in the sending royal ofcials and colonists to be tried United States and other countries, that it is important in Britain instead of the colonies to read some of this original document for yourself. suspending or dissolving colonial legislatures 1. You will see that the frst paragraph of the Declaration states that it sometimes becomes Te Declaration works up to the most serious necessary for a people to end the ties that once grievances at the very end of the list: joined them to another people. When they do, Te King has cut of their trade. they should explain their reasons for doing so to He has made war on the colonists. the rest of the world. He has hired foreign mercenaries against 2. Te next section may be the most famous part them. of the Declaration. It sets forth the American theory of government. Tis theory is based on He has ordered the burning down of towns. a belief in natural rights and John Locke’s social He has even stirred up neighboring American contract. It begins by stating that all people Indians to attack them. enjoy certain “unalienable rights” under Tis list of grievances is the longest part of the natural law. Tese are God-given rights that Declaration. cannot be taken away. Among these rights are “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” 5. Te fnal paragraphs of the Declaration explain 3. Te Declaration next explains that people create that the colonists have tried to settle their governments to protect these rights. When disagreements with Britain peacefully, but that a government acts to destroy these rights, its all of their attempts have failed. Te time has citizens have the right to end that government therefore come for the colonists to declare their and to create a new one. independence. Te Declaration recognizes that people Te last paragraph of the Declaration actually con- should not change their government lightly. Dis- tains the wording of Richard Henry Lee’s famous agreement with a few government decisions does resolution: the former colonies are and of right not justify changing an entire system of govern- should be free and independent states. Te colonists ment. But when there has been a long pattern of no longer consider themselves to be subjects of the abuses, showing that the government has become

King, and they claim the right to wage war and to © FTE • Unlawful to photocopy without permission despotic (oppressive and dictatorial), then the make alliances on their own behalf. people clearly have the right to change their government.

4. Such has been the case, the Declaration Can you find the words “Declaration of Inde- argues, for the American colonists. Te British pendence” in the document? Curiously, they government has committed repeated injuries against them. Te Declaration lists many of do not appear there, although people began these specifc abuses. Tese include: referring to it as the “Declaration of Indepen- refusing to approve necessary laws dence” almost as soon as it was signed. imposing taxes without the colonists’ consent

Chapter 2 | Americans Declare Their Independence 25