The colonies launched an unsuccessful campaign to capture Canada after failing to enlist Canadians' aid against Britain. One force, under Richard Montgomery, proceeded by Lake Champlain to Montreal, while another force, under Benedict Arnold, advanced by the Kennebec with a view to meeting Montgomery at Quebeck. Montgomery was killed before Quebec (Dec. 21). Arnold carried on the unsuccessful siege for the remainder of the winter.
Evacuation of Boston by the British forces. Meanwhile the unyielding attitude of the British government, the hiring of German mercenaries, the events on the Canadian frontier, and the burning of Norfolk inflamed public opinion. The appearance of Thomas Paine's Common Sense crystallized that opinion in favor of independence. The book went through 25 printings and sold 100,000 copies in a single year. Most of the writing of the period was in the form of patriotic pamphlets and essays.
Congress announced that the authority of the British crown should be suppressed and power of government established under authority of the people of the colonies.
Resolution of Richard Henry Lee in Congress “That these United Colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent States.” Congress appointed a committee of five to draft a declaration of independence. The committee asked Thomas Jefferson to prepare the document.
