3.The Outbreak of War and the Second Continental Congress

In April of 1775，some British troops were sent to Lexington and Concord，small towns about thirty miles from Boston，to disarm the American militiamen there.It was here in Lexington that the first shot in the American War of Independence was fired.The sound of that shot aroused the colonists，and within a few days，20，000militiamen had gathered outside Boston.

Immediately after this，in May 1775，the Second Continental Congress

was held with representatives from all 13colonies.Among them were Samuel and John Adams of Massachusetts，Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphia，and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia.This Congress lasted throughout the whole war.At the beginning of congress was still reluctant to make the final break with the mother country.But sentiment for independence grew with the spread of fighting.In Jan.1776，Thomas Pain published his incendiary pamphlet，Common Sense.In his pamphlet，he blamed King George Ⅲfor colonies’problems and urged the Americans to declare their independence.The Congress made a very important decision that was to form a regular army from the scattered militia units and volunteers.George Washington was made commander-in-chief of the continental army.He was one of the few Americans with considerable military experience.He led the continental army to the victory of the independence war.

Common Sense

Thomas Paine