Student Web Activity Lesson Plans

Chapter 2: The Origins of American Government

Introduction
The delegates to the Second Continental Congress included some of the greatest political leaders in America. Among those attending were John and Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and George Washington—all delegates to the First Continental Congress held in 1774. Several distinguished new delegates came as well. Benjamin Franklin was one of the most accomplished and respected individuals in the colonies. John Hancock of Massachusetts was one of the wealthiest colonists. Virginia's Thomas Jefferson, only 32 years old, had already acquired a reputation as a brilliant thinker and writer. With great minds comes great—but perhaps not parallel—convictions. In this activity, students will learn that independence from Great Britain was not a foregone conclusion when the delegates met in 1775.

Lesson Description
Students will read an article about the various personalities, beliefs, and persuasions of the delegates to the Second Continental Congress. Students will analyze a media version of the events that led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence and then write a summary or graphic novel of one of the delegate's contributions or opposition to the document.

Instructional Objectives

Learners will identify delegates' points of view.
Learners will comprehend the difficulty the delegates had in gaining a consensus on declaring independence.
Learners will summarize or create a graphic novel depicting one delegate's contributions to or arguments against independence.

Student Web Activity Answers

The author states that "Never before had a large communion of dependent colonies of a foreign power, come together to achieve the seemingly impossible dream of unified independence." It was the first time a colony successfully broke away from its home country.
The colony of South Carolina had not been on the receiving end of British tyranny as Massachusetts had.
He did not believe declaring independence was an act of treason. He opposed it, however, fearing that "the backwater, ill-prepared Colonial Army, under the direction of George Washington, had little or no chance against the highly trained forces of Great Britain." He changed his mind after watching the Colonial Army train.
Each colony had to be unanimous in its vote. Delaware had to retrieve a "for independence" delegate, and Franklin had to convince the third delegate from Pennsylvania to break a tie.
Students' character summaries or graphic novels should include facts about the Second Continental Congress and how the person they selected contributed positively or negatively to the Declaration of Independence.