Semester 1 Week 5 Continental Congress Simulation

 A Summary (“The Minutes”) of the First Continental Congress

• The congress met from Sept 5 – Oct 26, 1774 in Philadelphia.
• All colonies except Georgia were present.
• The most eminent group of men in America made up the Virginia delegation, which included: Colonel George Washington, Richard Henry Lee, and Patrick Henry, among others.
• Up until this meeting, the colonies had operated independently and were very mistrustful of each other.
• It was agreeable to all that the King and Parliament must be made to understand the grievances of the colonies.  A determination was made to stop importing English goods, effective Dec 1, 1774, unless parliament would rescind the Intolerable Acts.
• If these grievances were not attended to by Great Britain, then the congress agreed to meet again in a year’s time.

Credit: Stevie Bird

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE SIMULATION 

Set stage for simulation

Possible set up:

Green table cloths, candles, table at the front for “John Hancock” (mentor), a mallet/gavel for bringing the room to order, three-cornered colonial hats, paper labels on tables for each colony (cardstock, folded in half to make a place marker), a quill pen/ink, and a copy of the declaration to be signed at the end. We used a parchment copy we got from Hobby Lobby using a 40% off coupon. (We will hang it, with our class’s signatures on it, at the front of the room during each class throughout the year.)

Each delegate needs:

• a copy of the declaration
• their state information
• either a copy of The Needs for Independence or Why Independence is Out of the Question, depending on whether their colony is for or against independence.

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State Information to cut apart and Hand to each respective delegate:

New Hampshire

Welcome to the Continental Congress honorable delegate. You represent the great Colony of New Hampshire. The reason we have gathered here today is to decide the question of independence. Your state is heavily involved in the importation of goods which the king has taxed heavily.  For years you and the northern colonies have borne the brunt of the king’s anger as you fight this imposition.  You are tired of the high taxes and you are tired of the king.  New Hampshire will fight for independence until the end. The following papers are a resource for you to use which includes some of what our fellow patriots have said.

Here are some of your fellow delegates:

• Josiah Bartlett 
• William M. Whipple 
• Matthew Thornton 

Rhode Island

Welcome to the Continental Congress. You are the delegate from Rhode Island. Rhode Island is a land full of people who love liberty and are for independence with all of their hearts. The following papers are for your use. They are what your follow patriots have said about independence. 

Here are the other delegates from your state:

• Stephen Hopkins 
• William Ellery

Delaware

Welcome to the Continental Congress, honorable delegate of Delaware. The question that we have gathered here to discuss today is independence.  Delaware is a small colony with a lot of pull in the nation.  Until recently Delaware has not supported independence but news just came that the people are now in favor of independence. The following papers are to help you represent the people of Delaware.

 Here are some of your fellow delegates:

• Caesar Rodney
• George Read
• Thomas McKean

 

New Jersey

Welcome to the Continental Congress. You are the honorable delegate of New Jersey. The question that we are gathered here today to discuss is independence. You are for independence but you believe that the time is not quite right and your legislature has not given you any instructions as to how to vote. This is your main reason for not supporting independence. The following papers are to help you represent the people of New Jersey. Regardless of your personal convictions, you are a servant of the people and must act as they would and as of this moment they do not support independence. 

Here are the other delegates from your state:

• Richard Stockton 
• John Witherspoon 
• Francis S Hopkinson 
• John Hart 
• Abraham Clark 

 

Connecticut

Welcome to the Continental Congress. You are the delegate from Connecticut. Connecticut is a land full of people who love liberty and are for independence with all of their hearts. The following papers are for your use. They are what your follow patriots have said about independence. 

Here are the other delegates from your state:

• Roger Sherman 
• Samuel Huntington 
• Wm Williams 
• Oliver Wolcott 

 

Massachusetts

Welcome to the Continental Congress. You have the privilege to be a delegate of Massachusetts. Your colony has done the most for the cause of liberty and you and your fellow delegates are some of the key movers for liberty. Your colony has truly borne the brunt of King George’s anger, troops reside in your colony and in your harbors, pillaging your lands and burning your homes. You must fight with all of your strength for independence. The following papers are a resource for you to use which includes some of what our fellow patriots have said.

Here are the other delegates from your state:

• Samuel Adams 
• John Adams 
• Robert Treat Paine 
• Elbridge Gerry 

After everyone has had their fill of debating, make a motion that the vote on independence be postponed until July 1^st so that a written document might be presented and the delegations might receive word from their legislatures.

 

New York

Welcome to the Continental Congress. You are the honorable delegate from New York, one of the biggest colonies in North America. The question that we are gathered here today to discuss is independence. You are for independence but you believe that the time is not quite right and your legislature has not given you any instructions as to how to vote. This is your main reason for not supporting independence. The following papers are to help you represent the people of New York. Regardless of your personal convictions, you are the servant of the people and must act as they would and as of this moment they do not support independence.

Here are the other delegates from your state:

• William Floyd 
• Philip Livingston 
• Francis Lewis 
• Lewis Morris 

 

Pennsylvania

Welcome to the Continental Congress. You are the honorable delegate of Pennsylvania. You represent a large portion of the nation because of the size of Pennsylvania. The question that we are gathered here today to discuss is independence. You are for independence but you believe that the time is not quite right; it would be disastrous for the people of Pennsylvania if the congress were to declare independence now. The time is not right. The following papers are to help you represent the people of Pennsylvania. Regardless of your personal convictions, you are a servant of the people and must act as they would and as of this moment they do not support independence. 

Here are the other delegates from your state:

• Robert Morris 
• Benjamin Rush 
• Benjamin Franklin 
• John Morton 
• George Clymer 
• James Smith 
• George Taylor
• James Wilson
• George Ross

Maryland

Welcome to the Continental Congress. You are the honorable delegate of Maryland. You represent a large portion of the nation because of the size of Maryland. The question that we are gathered here today to discuss is independence. You are for independence but you believe that the time is not quite right and your legislature has not given you any instructions as to how to vote. This is your main reason for not supporting independence. The following papers are to help you represent the people of Maryland. Regardless of your personal convictions, you are a servant of the people and must act as they would and as of this moment they do not support independence. 

Here are the other delegates from your state:

• Samuel Chase 
• William Paca 
• Thomas Stone 
• Charles Carrollton 

North Carolina

Welcome to the Continental Congress. You are the honorable delegate from North Carolina. The question we have before us today is independence. The people of North Carolina are not opposed to independence so long as it does not interfere with the institution of slavery. On most issues North Carolina sides with South Carolina. 

Here are the other delegates from your state:

• William M. Hooper 
• Joseph Hewes 
• John Penn 

 

South Carolina

Welcome to the Continental Congress. You are the honorable delegate of South Carolina. Your state is the leader of the South; what you vote the other southern states will most likely vote. The question that we are gathered here today to discuss is independence. The state of South Carolina is in favor of independence but they will not jeopardize their way of life for independence.  Slavery must not be touched for South Carolina to vote in favor of independence. 

Here are the other delegates from your state:

• Edward Rutledge 
• Thomas Heyward, Jr. 
• Thomas Lynch, Jr. 
• Arthur Middleton 

 

Georgia

Welcome to the Continental Congress. You are the honorable delegate from Georgia. The question before us today is independence. The people of Georgia are not opposed to independence so long as it does not interfere with the institution of slavery. On most issues Georgia sides with South Carolina. 

Here are the other delegates from your state:

• Button Gwinnett 
• Lyman Hall 
• George Walton 

 

 

 

Virginia

Welcome to the Continental Congress, you have the honor of representing the first colony of America, Virginia, home to George Washington our fearless leader. 

Richard Henry Lee has just returned from Virginia with a resolution from the Virginia Legislature that if passed will bring freedom to all Americans. 

The resolution is as follows:

Resolved

“That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. 

That is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign alliances. 

That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective colonies for their consideration and approbation.” 

It is evident from this resolution that you are for independence. Defend it with all that you have. The following papers will help you with your quest for independence. They are some of the things your fellow patriots have said before you.

Here are the other delegates from your state:

• George Wythe 
• Richard Henry Lee 
• Thomas Jefferson 
• Benjamin Harrison 
• Thomas Nelson, Jr. 
• Francis Lightfoot Lee 
• Carter Braxton 

 

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Print this for each colony that is against independence:

Why Independence is Out of the Question

• Though we are friends to the idea of independence and see the impossibility that we should ever again be united with Great Britain, yet we are against adopting independence at this time.
• The conduct we have formerly observed was wise and proper of deferring to take any capital steps till the voice of the people drove us into it: they or our power and without them our declarations could not be carried into effect.
• The people in the middle colonies are not yet ripe for the bidding adieu to the British connection, but they are fast ripening and in a short time they will Join in the general voice of America.
• Some colonies have expressly forbidden their delegates to consent to such a declaration, and others have given no instructions, and consequently no powers to give such consent.
• If a delegate cannot declare independence of his colony then certainly no other colony can declare it for them.
• And if such a declaration should now be agreed to, these colonies must retire and it is possible that their colonies might secede from the Union. And such secession would weaken us more than could be compensated by any foreign alliance. In such a division, foreign powers would either refuse to join themselves to our fortunes, or having us so much in their power as this desperate declaration would place us, they might Insist on terms proportionally more hard.
• France and Spain may become jealous of a rising nation and power that could one day certainly strip them of all their American possessions.
• Soon we will be receiving an ambassador from France and why not wait until we have an alliance with France before we declare independence?
• It will cost many lives and are we ready to wage a full out war?
• If we break up our ties with Great Britain, we will no longer be able to ensure our property or our right to gain property. 

Some things that other delegates have said previously in congress, about the acts of 'Parliament and the King:

John Dickerson

“The parliament unquestionably possesses a legal authority to regulate the trade of Great Britain and all her colonies. Such an authority is essential to the relation between a mother country and her colonies; and necessary for the common good of all. He. who considers these provinces as states distinct from the British empire, has very slender notions of justice, or of their interests. We are but parts of a whole; and therefore there must exist a power somewhere to preside and preserve the connection in due order. This power is lodged in the parliament; and we are as much dependent on Great-Britain as a perfectly free people can be on another.”

James Wilson

“Thus we see that the subjects of the king, though they reside in foreign countries still owe the duties of allegiance and are still entitled to the advantages of it. They transmit to their posterity the privilege of naturalization and all the other privileges which are the consequences of it.”

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Print this for each colony that is for independence:

The Needs for Independence

• No gentleman has argued against the policy or the right of separation from a twin, nor has supposed it possible we should ever renew our connections; they only opposed it being now declared.
• The question is not whether by a declaration of independence, we should make ourselves that we are not: but whether we should declare a fact that already exists.
• As to the king, we have been bound to him by allegiance but that bond was dissolved by his assent to the late act of parliament by which he declares us out of his protection and by his levying was on us a fact which has long ago proved us out of his protection it being a certain position in law that allegiances and protection are reciprocal the one ceasing when the other is withdrawn.
• The delegates from the Delaware counties have declared their constituents ready to join; there are only two colonies, Pennsylvania and Maryland, whose delegates are absolutely tied up and that these had by their instruction only reserved a right of confirming or rejecting the measure.
• The People wait for us to lead the way. They are in favor of the measure though the instruction given by some of their representatives are not.
• It would be in vain to wait either weeks or months for all to agree, for this will never happen since it is impossible that all men should ever become of one sentiment on any question.
• We have endured the taxes and the usurping of our rights long enough.
• We have not property: it is all owned by the king. Everything we own is taxed.
• A declaration of independence alone could render it consistent with European delicacy for European powers to treat with us, or even to receive an ambassador from us; until we declare independence they will not recognize us as a nation or a cause worth fighting for.
• Though France and Spain may be jealous of our rising power, they must think it will be much more formidable with the addition of Great Britain, and will therefore see it in their interest to prevent a coalition: but should they refuse, we shall be but where we are whereas without trying we shall never know whether they will aid us or not.
• We cannot lose any time to opening our trade again because of all of the taxes. The people need supply. 
• We are in a war.

Some things that other delegates have said previously in congress, about the need for independence:

John Adams

“I am well aware of the toll and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means. And posterity will triumph in that day's transaction…”

Samuel Adams

“Now what liberty can there be where property is taken away without consent? Can it be said with any color of truth and justice, that this continent of three thousand miles in length, and of a breadth as yet unexplored, in which, however, it is supposed there are five millions of people, has the least voice, vote, or influence in the British Parliament? Have they all together any more weight or power to return a single member to that House of Commons who have not inadvertently, but deliberately, assumed a power to dispose of their lives, liberties, and properties, than to choose an Emperor of China? Had the Colonists a right to return members to the British Parliament, it would only be hurtful: as from their local situation and circumstances, it is impossible they should ever be truly and properly represented there. The inhabitants of this country, in all probability, in a few years, will be more numerous than those of Great Britain and Ireland together: yet it is absurdly expected by the promoters of the present measures that these, with their posterity to all generations, should be easy, while their property shall be disposed of by a House of Commons at three thousand miles' distance from them, and who cannot be supposed to have the least care or concern for their real interest: who have not only no natural care for their interest, but must be in effect bribed against it, as every burden they lay on the Colonists is so much saved or gained to themselves. Hitherto, many of the Colonists have been free from quit rents: but if the breath of a British House of Commons can originate an act for taking away all our money, our lands will go next or be subject to rack rents from haughty and relentless landlords, who will ride at ease, while we are trodden in the dirt. The Colonists have been branded with the odious names of traitors and rebels only for complaining of their grievances. How long such treatment will or ought to be borne is submitted.”

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A (Draft) Declaration by the Representatives of United States of America, in General Congress Assembled

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for a people to advance from that subordination in which they have hitherto remained, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the equal and independent station to which the laws of nature and of nature's god entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the change. 

    We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable, that all men are created equal and independent; that from that equal creation they derive in rights inherent and inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, and liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these ends, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government shall become destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing it's powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes: and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. but when a long train of abuses and usurpations, begun at a distinguished period, and pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to [subject] reduce them to arbitrary power, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.  

    Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to expunge their former systems of government. The history of his present majesty is a history of unremitting injuries and usurpations, among which no fact stands single or solitary to contradict the uniform tenor of the rest, all of which have in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. to prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world, for the truth of which we pledge a faith yet unsullied by falsehood. 

    He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good: 

    He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has neglected utterly to attend to them.

    He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people unless those people would relinquish the right of representation [in the legislature], a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only: 

    He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. 

[he has dissolved] he has refused for a long space of time, to cause others to be elected, whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise, the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within: 

    He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands: 

    He has suffered the administration of justice totally to cease in some of these colonies, refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers: 

    He has made our judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount of their salaries. 

    He has erected a multitude of new offices by a self-assumed power, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance. 

    He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies and ships of war: 

    He has affected to render the military, independent of and superior to civil power: 

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitutions, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their pretended acts of legislation, for quartering large bodies of armed troops among us; 

    for protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders [which] they should commit on the inhabitants of these states; for cutting off our trade with all parts of the world; 

    for imposing taxes on us without our consent; 

    for depriving us of the benefits of trial by jury; 

    for transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses; 

    for taking away our charters, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments; 

    for suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate  

    for us in all cases whatsoever; 

    He has abdicated government here, withdrawing his governors, and declaring us out of his allegiance and protection; 

    He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people: 

    He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy unworthy the head of a civilized nation: 

    He has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions of existence: 

    He has incited treasonable insurrections of our fellow citizens with the allurements of forfeiture and confiscation of our property: 

    He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating it's most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating and carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere, or to inure miserable death in their transportation hither. this piratical warfare, the opprobrium of infidel powers, is the warfare of the Christian king of Great Britain. [determined to keep open a market where MEN should be bought and sold,] he has prostituted his negative for suppressing every legislative attempt to prohibit or to restrain this execrable commerce [determining to keep open a market where MEN should be bought and sold]: and that this assemblage of horrors might want no fact of distinguished die, he is now exciting those very people to rise in arms among us, and to purchase that liberty of which hehad deprived them, by murdering the people upon whom he also obtruded them: thus paying off former crimes committed against the liberties of one people, with crimes which he urges them to commit against the lives of another. 

    In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. a prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a people who mean to be free. future ages will scarce believe that the hardiness of one man, adventured within the short compass of twelve years only, on so many acts of tyranny without a mask, over a people fostered and fixed in principles of liberty. 

    Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. we have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over these our states. we have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here, no one of which could warrant so strange a pretension: that these were effected at the expense of our own blood and treasure, unassisted by the wealth or the strength of Great Britain: that in constituting indeed our several forms of government, we had adopted one common king, thereby laying a foundation for perpetual league and amity with them: but that submission to their parliament was no part of our constitution, nor ever in idea, if history may be credited: and we appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, as well as to the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which were likely to interrupt our correspondence and connections. they too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity, and when occasions have been given them, by the regular course of their laws, of removing from their councils the disturbers of our harmony, they have by their free election re-established them in power. at this very time too they are permitting their chief magistrate to send over not only soldiers of our common blood, but Scotch and foreign mercenaries to invade and deluge us in blood. these facts have given the last stab to agonizing affection, and manly spirit bids us to renounce forever these unfeeling brethren. We must endeavor to forget our former love for them, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends. we might have been a free and a great people together; but a communication of grandeur and of freedom it seems is below their dignity. be it so, since they will have it: the road to [glory and] happiness [and to glory] is open to us too; we will climb it apart from them [in a separate state] and acquiesce in the necessity which denounces [pronounces] our [everlasting Adieu!] eternal separation! 

    We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled do , in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these states, reject and renounce the allegiance and subjection to the kinds of Great Britain and all others we may hereafter claim by, through, or under them; we utterly dissolve and break off all political connection which may have heretofore subsisted between us and the people or parliament of Great Britain; and finally we do assert and declare these colonies to be free and independent states, and that as free and independent states they shall hereafter have [full] power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor. 

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Secondary Information to cut apart and give each respective delegate (hand this out at the appointed time during the simulation): …not all colonies have secondary information

 

Maryland

You have just received news that the people of Maryland want independence. You are now free to vote for independence. 

 

New York 

You have not received any news from your legislature as to what to do on the question of independence, but you have decided that if every other colony votes for independence you will vote for it as well. 

 

New Jersey

You have just received news that the people of New Jersey want independence. You are now free to vote for a free nation. 

 

South Carolina

The idea of independence is pleasing to you but you must protect your way of life and there is a clause in the declaration that speaks of slavery. If it is not removed you will not support this declaration or the idea of independence. Make a motion that the clause be stricken out. It begins with “He has waged cruel war…” 

State something such as, “Slavery is not morally wrong. Slavery is our way of life, it is how I feed my family, it is how our society survives. How can we say these things about the King of Great Britain when we ourselves commit the same offences?  If I am not mistaken, Mr. Jefferson himself owns slaves.

 

Massachusetts

Oppose the omitting of the paragraph that refers to slavery. Slavery is an immoral institution and there is no way to justify it. How can we petition for independence when we ourselves are oppressors of freedom?

 

North Carolina 

North Carolina agrees with whatever South Carolina says. Do not allow the declaration to pass without the paragraph that talks about slavery being deleted, leave the Congress if necessary.

                    

Georgia

The idea of independence is pleasing to you but you must protect your way of life.  If the paragraph that talks about slavery is not deleted from the Document you will leave the Continental Congress and in no way will you help the rest of the states in their cause for independence.

 

Virginia

Virginia would like the paragraph that talks about slavery to be removed but freedom is more important than the slavery issue.

 

Connecticut

Connecticut would not like the paragraph that reads:“He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.”to be removed. On the grounds that even though it never happened in Pennsylvania it has happened in other places.

 

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania would like the paragraph that reads: “He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.” You would like to remove this on the grounds that the Pennsylvania house has never been dissolved and by allowing this to be in the document it would be lying. 

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 Summary (“The Minutes”) of the First Continental Congress

• The congress met from Sept 5 – Oct 26, 1774 in Philadelphia.
• All colonies except Georgia were present.
• The most eminent group of men in America made up the Virginia delegation, which included: Colonel George Washington, Richard Henry Lee, and Patrick Henry, among others.
• Up until this meeting, the colonies had operated independently and were very mistrustful of each other.
• It was agreeable to all that the King and Parliament must be made to understand the grievances of the colonies.  A determination was made to stop importing English goods, effective Dec 1, 1774, unless parliament would rescind the Intolerable Acts.
• If these grievances were not attended to by Great Britain, then the congress agreed to meet again in a year’s time.

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Script for the Declaration of Independence Simulation

[Hand each scholar a hat and their role packet. Give a brief explanation and then give them 5-10 minutes to read over their packet. When they are ready, have them walk outside, put their hats on, and walk back into the room in character.]

(Script to be read by “John Hancock,” a mentor seated at the front of the room.)

The Congress will please come to order. (bang, bang)

Welcome, fellow delegates, to this the 2nd Continental Congress. It is June 7, 1776 and is yet another hot, humid morning -- one of many since May 10th when we first gathered here in the State House in Philadelphia.

As you know, the questions before us are of incredible importance to our colonies. Since the battles of Concord and Lexington LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AGO, the seriousness of our situation cannot be doubted.

Let us open with prayer. Would the delegate from ____________ please offer it?

[prayer] 

We will now proceed to call roll. Each colony will please say “present” after their name is called.

-New York -Maryland
-Massachusetts -New Jersey
-Delaware -Georgia
-Virginia     -North Carolina
-New Hampshire -Rhode Island
-South Carolina -Connecticut
-Pennsylvania

Thank you delegates. We will now read the minutes from the first continental congress. 

[read minutes]

As you all know, Mr. Henry Lee has just returned from the Virginia Legislature with a resolution. Would the honorable delegate from Virginia please read the resolution to the floor?

[Virginia delegate reads resolution

Resolved

“That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. 

That is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign alliances. 

That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective colonies for their consideration and approbation.”]

The resolution has been put before the floor, and the floor is now open for debate.

As we debate these most important issues, let me kindly remind you of the basics of orderly communication:

1. Delegates should always rise to make a motion or address the group.
2. If you want something voted on, then you must “move” that item of business. When making a motion, one should say “I move that…” 
3. All motions must be “seconded” or approved by a second person. This person should say “I second the motion.” 
4. If there is a motion before the house, no other motion can be made except:
1. To adjourn or recess (dismiss the congress for a time)
2. To move the previous question (that is, to end the discussion and move to voting)
5. One should always address the chairperson as Miss President and wait to be recognized before speaking.
6. When the congress is operating by the rules of parliamentary procedure, to speak you must operate by the rules of parliamentary procedure (or do your best). However, if the congress votes to move to a “committee of the whole,” you may speak and discuss without obeying the rules of parliamentary procedure, although you must still be respectful. You must also raise your hand and wait for the president to recognize you before speaking.

[Massachusetts will probably make a motion to postpone so a written document can be brought. They can take a quick 1 minute recess by leaving the room, where you can deliver the secondary information to them. Upon reconvening, start with “I welcome you back.” 

If no one makes a motion to postpone, skip the intro and go right into “A special committee…” Give the delegates the secondary information at this point.]

I welcome you back on this July 2^nd1776.  At the meeting of this Continental Congress on June 7^th, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia called for a complete separation from Great Britain.  Several states asked for a brief postponement of any final decision in order to get instructions from home.  

A special committee was appointed to write a formal declaration of independence. The committee has asked for help compiling the list of injuries of the king. This congress assembles as an informal “committee of the whole” to freely discuss and debate Jefferson’ manifesto of freedom, particularly the list of injuries of the king. 

[Read draft version of the declaration up to “injuries”]

Are there any amendments the delegates wish to make?

[You may need to remind the delegates that this is the time to discuss and debate the list of injuries of the king, and remind them that they have information in their packets including possibly instructions from their constituents at home. 

If there are any changes to the declaration resulting from motions made by the delegates, make them.]

At this time, our informal “committee of the whole” will convene back into the Continental Congress and parliamentary procedure.

I move the previous question, that we vote on this, our formal declaration of independence. 

We will now read the final version of the end of the declaration (“injuries” and after)? 

[Read draft version of the declaration beginning with “injuries,” including any changes made during this meeting.]

I move to vote on whether or not to adopt this declaration.

Does anyone second?

Those in favor, say ‘yea’.  Any opposed?

[vote to approve the declaration]

The declaration has been approved. Now we will vote as to whether or not we will be
independent colonies. This vote must be unanimous. If any colony votes nay, then it will fail.
Fellow delegates, I would like to recall to your mind the final sentence of this declaration: “And
for the support of this declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence,
we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. “ By signing this document you are signing your life away. In essence, you are signing your name in blood. If our glorious cause of freedom is defeated, we will be tried for high treason. Need I remind you that the penalty for high treason is to be hung until unconscious, cut down and revived,
disemboweled, beheaded cut into quarters and boiled in oil? The remnants will then be
scattered abroad so that the last resting place of the offender will remain forever unnamed, unhonored, and unknown. Think carefully before you sign. Remember the consequences.
Remember too, that we are fighting for freedom. We are fighting that ourselves, and our
children, and our children’s children may be free forever from the grasp of monarchs and the
chains of tyranny. Gentlemen, are you ready to sign?

Those in favor, say ‘yea’.  Any opposed?

The resolution passes unanimously.
You may come forward and sign this document.

Thank you Gentlemen. May God be with you and with all of us in the days ahead.
This meeting is adjourned.

[Break out of simulation] 

[Debrief—aim for about half as much time in the debrief as you were in the simulation]

Possible debrief questions:

What was your experience like representing your colony? 

Did you learn anything new? What?

What did you learn about the founders? 

What did you learn about yourself? 

Did you agree with what you were asked to argue for? 

What did you think about this experience? How did you feel during it?

What is your biggest takeaway from this experience?

How are you going to change because of the simulation?