| A | B |
|---|
| Second Continental Congress | met in Philadelphia and formed the Continental Army |
| George Washington | elected to be General and Commander-in-Chief |
| Olive Branch Petition | a letter sent by the Congress to King George III saying war could be avoided if the British government would give the colonists greater freedom to govern themselves. |
| Thomas Paine | Wrote a pamphlet called "Common Sense" in easy to understand language convincing the colonists it was time to declare independence |
| Declaration of Independence | stated the rights of the American colonists and their reasons for declaring independence |
| unalienable rights | rights that cannot be taken away |
| John Hancock | served as President of Congress |
| Richard Henry Lee | member of Congress from Virginia;before Declaration of Independence was written, he asked Congress to vote for independence |
| Continental Army | an army with soldiers from all 13 colonies |
| Thomas Jefferson | wrote the Declaration of Independence, |
| John Adams | suggested George Washington for leading the Continental Army and insisted Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence |
| Benjamin Franklin | one of the committee members to draft the Declaration of Independence |
| traitor | a person who works against his/her country |
