History of the United States . d in se- emmentcuring thousands of mercenary troops from foreign countries tocarry on the war against the colonies.^ Furthermore, the exposed 1 These troops were drafted from the subjects of the numerous pettyprinces of the German states, who sold their ser\dces to anyone who wouldpaj-- for them. As many of those who served in America were subjects of theLandgrave of Hesse-Cassel, Hessians became a general term applied to allGermans in the British service. 117 118 SECOND PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTION towns on the Atlantic coast had been harshly treated by Britishfriga
History of the United States . d in se- emmentcuring thousands of mercenary troops from foreign countries tocarry on the war against the colonies.^ Furthermore, the exposed 1 These troops were drafted from the subjects of the numerous pettyprinces of the German states, who sold their ser\dces to anyone who wouldpaj-- for them. As many of those who served in America were subjects of theLandgrave of Hesse-Cassel, Hessians became a general term applied to allGermans in the British service. 117 118 SECOND PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTION towns on the Atlantic coast had been harshly treated by Britishfrigates, and some of them had been bombarded and burned. These events, therefore, greatly quickened a sentiment thathad been setting strongly toward a declaration of complete inde-Advocates of pendencc of the mother country. Prominent in work- indepen-. , dence mg for Separation were such men as John and bamuel Adams, of Massachusetts; Nathanael Greene, of Rhode Island;Benjamin Franklin, of Pennsylvania; Samuel Chase, of Maryland;. Christopher Gadsden, of South Carolina; and Richard HenryLee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington,of Virginia.^ 2 In January, 1776, a pamphlet was published in Philadelphia under thetitle of Common Sense. It was written by Thomas Paine, an Enghshmanwho had recently emigrated to the colonies. Paine wrote that, The periodof debate is closed; arms, as the last resource, decide the contest. This pam-phlet strikingly presented the arguments for independence, which were thusgiven a wide circulation among the people. CONTINENTAL CONGRESS FOR INDEPENDENCE 119 Georgia first gave freedom of action to her delegates in Con-gress. North Carohna, elated over her victory at Moores CreekBridge, empowered her delegates directly to vote for Coloniesindependence. This was on the 12th of April, 1776. independenceIn the same month, Massachusetts and Rhode Island took stepsto give their delegates similar instructions. Virginia began todeclare her choice in
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