THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE – U.S HISTORY

The Second Continental Congress convened in May 1775 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in a building now famously known as Independence Hall. This gathering marked a significant escalation in the American colonies’ resistance to British rule. Unlike the First Continental Congress, which primarily sought to address grievances and seek reconciliation, the Second Continental Congress took decisive steps toward organizing for a full-scale conflict with Britain. The delegates recognized that a well-trained army would be essential for the anticipated war and thus decided to create the Continental Army. This marked the transition from a loosely organized militia system to a unified military force representing all thirteen colonies. George Washington, a delegate from Virginia and a seasoned military leader, was unanimously appointed as the army’s commander. His leadership would become a cornerstone of the Revolutionary War effort.

Over the following months, the Continental Army began rigorous training to prepare for the challenges ahead. The determination and unity among the colonies grew as the British soldiers occupying Boston withdrew in March 1776, following the successful Siege of Boston. This retreat bolstered colonial confidence and demonstrated that organized resistance could compel the British to relinquish their strongholds.

Amid these military developments, the intellectual and ideological foundations of independence were being laid. In early 1776, Thomas Paine, a recent immigrant to the colonies, published a powerful and widely influential pamphlet titled Common Sense. This pamphlet presented compelling arguments for breaking away from British rule, emphasizing the natural rights of individuals, the flaws of monarchy, and the economic and political benefits of independence. Paine’s plain language and persuasive reasoning resonated deeply with colonists from all walks of life, significantly increasing support for the cause of independence. Common Sense played a critical role in shifting public opinion toward the idea of self-governance.

The colonists’ desire for independence was also rooted in historical principles and legal precedents. One of their key inspirations was the Magna Carta, a foundational document in British constitutional history, signed by King John in 1215. The Magna Carta established essential rights, including the right to a representative government with authority over taxation, the right to a fair trial by jury, and the guarantee of due process in legal matters. The American colonists believed that the British government had violated these rights through oppressive taxation, denial of representation, and the arbitrary use of power. Determined to reclaim these principles, the colonists began envisioning a government of their own, one that would embody these ideals and safeguard their liberties.

By mid-1776, the momentum for independence had become unstoppable. The delegates of the Second Continental Congress formally decided that the thirteen colonies should break away from British rule and become self-governing. To articulate the colonies’ reasons for this momentous decision, the Congress tasked Thomas Jefferson, a young and eloquent delegate from Virginia, with drafting a formal declaration. Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence outlined the philosophical justification for independence, asserting the natural rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It also detailed the colonists’ grievances against King George III, accusing him of tyranny and enumerating the ways in which he had violated their rights.

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence. This historic document not only proclaimed the colonies’ separation from Britain but also laid the ideological foundation for the new nation. The date of its approval has since been celebrated as the birth of the United States of America. The Declaration of Independence remains a cornerstone of American democracy, symbolizing the values of freedom, equality, and self-determination that continue to define the nation.

THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

Directions: Choose the best answer to each of the following questions.

 Question 1 is based on the following passage:

 We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created

 equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with 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, —That whenever any Form of

 Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of

 the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new

 Government, laying its foundation on such principles and

 organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most

 likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

 —Excerpt from the Declaration of Independence (1776)

 1.  The Declaration of Independence lists rights that should not be taken

 away. Indicate these rights with an X on the line before each one.

 _____ Liberty

 _____ Life

 _____ Power

 _____ Pursuit of happiness

 _____ Safety

_____ Truthfulness

 2.  The Second Continental Congress chose which of the following to be

 the Commander of the Continental Army?

 A.   George Washington

 B.   Thomas Jefferson

 C.   Thomas Paine

 D.   Benjamin Franklin

1. The Declaration of Independence lists rights that should not be taken away. Indicate these rights with an X.

✅ Correct Answers (mark with X):

• ✅ X Liberty
• ✅ X Life
• ⛔ Power
• ✅ X Pursuit of happiness
• ⛔ Safety (Not listed in this specific excerpt as an unalienable right)
• ⛔ Truthfulness

Explanation:
The Declaration clearly states that all men are endowed with unalienable rights, specifically:

• Life
• Liberty
• Pursuit of Happiness
  These are the only rights explicitly named as unalienable in the excerpt.

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2. The Second Continental Congress chose which of the following to be the Commander of the Continental Army?

✅ Correct Answer: A. George Washington

Explanation:
In 1775, the Second Continental Congress appointed George Washington as the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army due to his prior military experience and leadership qualities.