Ideas for Revolution

What you need to know

• Battle of Bunker Hill• Olive Branch Petition• Common Sense

• His influence on independence movement• John Locke & Montesquieu—how they

influenced Declaration of Independence• How Declaration of Independence is organized• Role of Thomas Jefferson in writing Declaration• Who stayed loyalists & who became patriots

After Lexington & Concord

• Major debates all over colonies Between loyalists (to the king) and

patriots (for independence)

• Many families split up violently

2nd Continental Congress

• In Philadelphia starting May 1775• 13 colonies send reps

• John Adams (MA) wanted:Full separation from BritainEach colony get independencePick general to lead troops

• Many in Congress disagreed w/him

2nd Continental Congress

• Acted as government for coloniesPrinted paper money to pay troopsNamed George Washington

commander of Continental ArmySet up committee for foreign relations

• Lasted for 5 years

Battle of Bunker Hill

• British controlled Boston

• Patriots atop steep hill across river from Boston (called Breed’s Hill)

• British tried to storm hill

Battle of Bunker Hill

• Patriots didn’t have much ammo• “Don’t fire until you see the whites

of their eyes”• Kept beating Brits back• 3rd try – Brits broke through & won• Losses – Pats 400 / Brits 1000

Olive Branch Petition

• Plea to King George III from Congress urging return to old days of happiness & harmony

• King refused, ordered naval blockade of the coast – Formally declared the colonies in rebellion

Common Sense• Pamphlet published anonymously by

Thomas Paine (over 500,000 sold)• Urged revolt & argued that

independence is America’s destiny• America free to trade w/anyone for

guns & ammo – inc. Brits’ enemies• Independence = chance to create

better society w/equality for all

Declaration of Independence

• By 1776, colonies had begun declaring independence separately• NC had already, VA was about to

• Congress voted 6/7/76 to declare independence, picked Jefferson to write it

3 parts of Declaration

• Philosophy• Explained why all people deserved to

be treated fairly• List of grievances

• Explained ways Americans were treated unfairly

• Separation• Declared independence

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)• Wrote Leviathan (1651).• Believed that government existed to

protect people from themselves and their natural wickedness.

• Hobbes believed that the social contract could never be broken, which justified absolute monarchies.

• If you challenge the king, you enter into anarchy.

John Locke (1632-1704)

• Wrote Two Treatises on Government (1690)• Said that humans were creatures of reason and not

“naturally wicked”. • Locke believed that humans entered into the social contract

in order to protect their rights as citizens. • If those rights were no longer being protected, the social

contract could be broken.• Once that social contract was broken, the people are then

free to forge a new social contract. (Glorious Revolution)• How is this different from Hobbes’ beliefs?• Who do you believe is correct?

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)

• The Social Contract (1762)• Rousseau added to Locke’s ideas on the Social Contract stating:1. All people have the right to a voice in their government.2. Liberty/freedom could not exist without equality.3. The only laws that the people must obey are the laws that the

people make for themselves. • Governments derive their power from the consent of the

governed .

Montesquieu (1689 – 1755)

• French philosopher inspired Americans

• Separation of powers• King holds all political power, so he

can easily oppress the people• If powers are separated, harder to

force oppression onto the people

Montesquieu• Three main powers of government

• Legislative – decides what should be laws• Executive – makes sure laws are followed• Judicial – decides if people don’t follow

laws

Declaration of Independence

• Stated all men created equal• Politically, not socially or economic• Didn’t mean women, natives or slaves

• Included attack on slave trade• SC and GA wouldn’t go along with it• Jefferson cut that section out

Declaration of Independence

• Approved July 2, 1776• Signed July 4, 1776• John Hancock’s signature

• Presiding officer of the Congress• Probably only person to sign it that

day – lots of space to fill• Others added signatures later, most

on August 2

America chooses sides

• Families split up• Loyalists

• Opposed separation from Britain• Many switched sides during war

Why did some stay loyal?

• Don’t turn back on your family• New government might be worse

than the old one• Didn’t think America could win• King was good to some of them

Why did some rebel?

• Most had something to gain financially

• Some colonists weren’t English• German• Irish• Scots

The neutrals• Many people didn’t choose a side• Groups who were complicated:

• Quakers didn’t fight (but most supported Patriots)

• Slaves fought on both sides – Brits promised freedom (many didn’t trust)

• Most natives supported Brits – many stayed out (didn’t trust either side)

What you need to know

• Battle of Bunker Hill• Olive Branch Petition• Common Sense

• His influence on independence movement• John Locke & Montesquieu—how they

influenced Declaration of Independence• How Declaration of Independence is organized• Role of Thomas Jefferson in writing Declaration• Who stayed loyalists & who became patriots