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Between the First and Second Continental Congress meetings, many things happened to increase tension between the Colonists and the Crown. Things such as Lexington/Concord, Bunker Hill, and Battle of Dorchester Heights. These three items seemed to suggest that War between America and Great Britain was a sure thing. As these things were going on, it appeared quite obvious to some that there was no turning back. The Second Continental Congress decided to form a committee to write a document declaring Indepedence from Great Britain. One man was instrumental in raising support for this cause. His name was Thomas Paine. Paine wrote and published a book called "Common Sense" which we have discussed in class. At first, Paine published this book anonymously. For this blog post, we are going to look at Paine's "Common Sense" and the Declaration of Indepdence itself. Task #1: Why was Thomas Paine's book "Common Sense" so important? What did it do? Why do you think Paine published "Common Sense" anonymously at first? What made this book so popular among the colonists? Do you think that most colonists would have supported Indepednece without "Common Sense" ? Answer all questions I have just posed.
Task #2: The Declaration of Indepdence, written and published by white males, officially announced our break from Great Britain and our quest for Independence. However, the Declaration of Indepdence excluded a few groups of people such as Native Americans, African Americans, and Women. Why was that? How come these groups of people, groups of people who had many people in the thirteen colonies, get excluded from the Declaration? In a document based on equality and individual rights, did it "miss the boat" with these other groups of people?
Points: 20
DUE: October 30th, 2009. 11:00 p.m.
