Declaring Independence :: History

Declaring IndependenceOn May 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. The Congress dealt with the military crisis the colonies were in with England. It organized effectivenesss around Boston into the Continental Army and appointed George Washington to commander-in-chief. The Battle of Bunker Hill was the introductory major battle fought in the war. The colonists had made a fort on Bunker and Breeds Hills to fire on English ships approaching Boston. Thomas dirty dog ordered his British troops to attack the hills. He believed the task to be an easy one, but met great safeguard. It took twain British attempts to capture the two hills, which lead to many British casualties. The second attempt did run the colonists forth the hills, but resulted in a greater colonial victory. Of the original 2500 Redcoats, solely 1500 had survived the attack while only 400 of the Patriots had met with death. Although war had begun, the colonies still valued to make peace with E ngland. Only 1/3 of the colonists wanted to hire war with England. The people were afraid that if a major war was fought with England, that completely traitors would be executed. The motives for the war were not against King George III. The colonies were rebelling against Parliament, not against the crown. The Olive showtime Petition was created in an attempt to persuade King George III to intercede for the colonies. King George ignored the petition and said to use full force against the colonies to crush the resistance to English government. Then in January 1776, Thomas Paine published Common Sense with stated that the American Colonies should be independent from England. This along with the Kings refusal to support the colonies caused the creation of the Declaration of Independence. The devastation caused by the Battle of Bunker Hill caused world(a) Gage to be replaced with General William Howe. Howe ordered his troops to evacuate Boston and sailed his men to Nova Scotia to wait for reinforcements and to programme his next attack. How planned to isolate New England because it was though that most resistance originated from there. He intended to capture New York City and take train of the Hudson River. He also planned for an army, led by John Burgoyne, to abut southward from Canada. Howe was successful in his attempts to capture New York City. General Howes victory in New York City began a repeating ensample for both himself and Washington.