What Was the Continental Congress?

And Other Questions about the Declaration of Independence

From the Series Six Questions of American History

  • Interest Level: Grade 4 - Grade 6
  • Reading Level: Grade 5

In September 1774, American colonial leaders gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From New Hampshire to Georgia, colonists were angry about the taxes they were forced to pay to Great Britain. But Britain’s King George III and the British government refused to listen to the colonists. Decisionmakers from each American colony held a congress—a formal meeting—to discuss what the colonies should do. Some leaders wanted to make peace with Britain. Others wanted to break free of British rule—even if that meant going to war. In the spring of 1776, the members reached a decision. They wrote, voted on, and issued the Declaration of Independence. This important document announced that the newly united American states were no longer a part of Great Britain.

So why were many colonists against paying taxes to Great Britain?
Who actually wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Why do we celebrate on July 4?

Discover the facts about the Declaration of Independence and learn about its place in American history.

Format Your Price Add
978-0-7613-7135-9
$11.99
978-0-7613-7239-4
$34.99
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Interest Level Grade 4 - Grade 6
Reading Level Grade 5
Genre Social Studies
Copyright 2011
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint LernerClassroom, Lerner Publications ™
Language English
Number of Pages 48
Publication Date 2011-01-01
Reading Counts! Level 4.7
Text Type Informational/Explanatory
BISACS JNF025190
Dewey 973.3'13
Graphics Full-color illustrations
Dimensions 7 x 9
Lexile 780
Guided Reading Level T
ATOS Reading Level 5.6
Accelerated Reader® Quiz 142850
Accelerated Reader® Points 1.0
Features Bibliography/further reading, Index, Primary source quotations/images, Sidebars, Source notes, Table of contents, Teaching Guides, Timeline, and eSource