Unit 2 Lesson 2: The Declaration of Independence

Vocabulary flashcards covering the major figures, events, publications, and political developments leading to the adoption of the American Declaration of Independence.

Patrick Henry

A Virginia Patriot known for proclaiming the famous phrase, "Give me liberty, or give me death!!"

Continental Army

An army created by the Second Continental Congress upon John Adams's proposal, comprised of troops from all the colonies and placed under the command of George Washington.

George Washington

Commander in chief of the Continental Army, unanimously elected due to his skill, military experience from the French and Indian War, strong character, and ability to unite the colonies.

Henry Knox

An officer sent by George Washington to Fort Ticonderoga who transported 59 cannons and 2,300 pounds of lead over 300 miles on sleds during winter to supply the Continental Army.

Breed's Hill

The hill overlooking Boston where Israel Putnam led colonial troops on June 16, 1775, to erect a fort, becoming the primary site of fighting in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Israel Putnam

A colonial general who led forces at Breed's Hill and famously ordered his men, "Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes."

General William Howe

The British commander who ordered an immediate attack at Breed's Hill with 2,000 fresh troops, ultimately capturing the position on the third attempt.

Battle of Bunker Hill

A June 1775 engagement where British troops seized Breed's Hill on their third attack, resulting in over 1,000 British and nearly 500 American casualties.

Olive Branch Petition

A July 1775 appeal sent by the Second Continental Congress asking King George III to end the quarrel, which the king rejected by declaring the colonies in "open and avowed Rebellion."

Thomas Paine

A Patriot author who published the 1776 pamphlet Common Sense, scoffing at loyalty to King George III and urging Americans to pursue independence.

Common Sense

A fiery pamphlet published in early 1776 that sold over 120,000 copies, arguing that British rule damaged American trade, dragged the colonies into European conflicts, and that independence was key to a brighter future.

Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence

An alleged document dated May 20, 1775, in which citizens of Mecklenburg County dissolved political ties with Britain; its original reportedly burned in 1800, leading some modern scholars to question its authenticity.

Virginia Declaration of Rights

A document drafted by Virginia representatives asserting that fundamental rights belong to them and their posterity as the basis and foundation of government (dated November 7, 1765, in the lecture notes).

The Lee Resolution

A resolution presented on June 7, 1776, proposing that the United Colonies are free, independent States absolved of all allegiance to the British Crown.

Committee of Five

The group appointed by the Second Continental Congress to draft a declaration of independence, consisting of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston.

Natural Rights

The philosophical principle underlying Jefferson's argument in the Declaration of Independence, stating that governments exist to protect fundamental rights and may be altered or abolished if they fail to do so.

Slavery Passage Controversy

A section in Jefferson's initial declaration draft removed by Congress because Southern delegates feared demands to liberate enslaved laborers and Northern delegates worried about offending New England merchants.

July 2, 1776

The date when 12 of the 13 colonies in the Second Continental Congress voted to approve independence from Great Britain, with New York casting no vote.

July 4, 1776

The date the delegates of the Second Continental Congress formally approved the final revised version of the Declaration of Independence.

July 9, 1776

The date George Washington gathered his troops in Manhattan, gave a short speech, and publicly read the Declaration of Independence to boost military morale.