The Second Continental Congress met three weeks after the battles of Lexington and Concord. Delegates from each colony, except Georgia, met in the State House in Pennsylvania. One topic that was debated was the purpose for fighting the British. People such as Richard Henry Lee supported independence from England, but those like John Dickinson wanted reform. At the beginning of the war, most thought they were fighting
to seek some changes in their relation with the British. However, as time progressed during the war, more and more began to embrace the idea of independence. One thing they approved in the Second Continental Congress was the Olive Branch Petition, which was a last conciliatory appeal to the King of England. Following this, they approved the "Declaration of Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms." This document stated that the British government had caused the American people to choose between
two choices. These choices they considered themselves left with were "unconditional submission to the tyranny of irritated ministers or resistance by force."
The Continental Congress also appointed a committee that would draft what would be known as the Declaration of Independence. They approved a resolution just two days prior to approving of the declaration. This resolution stated: "That these United Colonies are, and, of right, ought to be, free and independent states; that they are
absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political [connection] between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be totally dissolved." The declaration justified this resolution and was written mostly by Thomas Jefferson.
A little over one year later in November 1777, Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, which weren't ratified until three years later. The Articles of Confederation confirmed the existence of the decentralized system in place and
that the Continental Congress would continue to be in charge of coordinating the war effort.
All of these documents and ideas put into effect by the Continental Congress were debated upon. Delegates from different colonies had their own ideas and beliefs. Therefore, opposing ideas had to reach a compromise
England and then in Europe, America, and Japan, social systems underwent wrenching changes. Hundreds of thousands of men and women moved from rural areas into cities to work in factories, where they experienced both the benefits and the costs of industrialization
Populations grew rapidly, and people began to live longer. At the same time, pollution, crime, and infectious disease (until modern sanitation systems emerged) increased greatly in industrialized cities. Around the industrial world, middle classes expanded and came, in varying degrees, to dominate the economy (although not always the culture or the politics) of their nations.
"Treat them in the most friendly & conciliatory manner which their own conduct will admit; allay all jealousies as to the object of your journey, satisfy them of it's innocence, make them acquainted with the position, extent, character, peaceable & commercial dispositions of the U.S., of our wish to be neighborly, friendly & useful to them, & of our dispositions to a commercial intercourse with them; confer with them on the points most convenient as mutual emporiums, & the articles of most desirable interchange for them & us. If a few of their influential chiefs, within practicable distance, wish to visit us, arrange such a visit with them, and furnish them with authority to call on our officers, on their entering the U.S. to have them conveyed to this place at public expense. If any of them should wish to have some of their young people brought up with us, & taught such arts as may be useful to them, we will receive, instruct & take care of them, such a mission."
Sets with similar termsBritish soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists who were teasing and taunting them. Five colonists were killed. The colonists blamed the British and the Sons of Liberty and used this incident as an excuse to promote the Revolution.
Relations began to sour soon after Britain tried to exact a price from her colonists for the protection of America and its ever expanding frontier .The Act, which was intended by Parliament to provide the funds necessary to keep the peace between settlers and the Native American populations in the wilderness, was loathed throughout the colonies. While its repeal in Parliament a year later was applauded by Americans, the British Government quickly enacted other provisions designed to fulfill the same function. Each was met with resistance in America.
... Where Britain's actions will lead is the subject of wide speculation. While there is talk in America of some concerted effort on the part of the colonies to protest the closing of Boston harbor, historically, the colonies have been a diverse lot and many are skeptical whether they can unite in this cause. In any case, emotions are running high, and a sense of gloom is encompassing Massachusetts, and other colonies in America. One patriot mournfully observed, "Our cause is righteous and I have no doubt of final success. But I see our generation, and perhaps our whole land, drowned in blood."