Ch. 4.1 “The Revolution Begins p. 112-116 KEY

First Continental Congress

•October, 1774 -- meeting in Philadelphia

•Delegates from all colonies except Georgia attended.

•Meet in response to Intolerable Acts and the closing of BostonHarbor

•Concerned about relationship between colonies and Britain

•Debate possibility of peaceful solution

•Resolve to continue to boycott trade with Britain and prepare the militia for war.

Declaration of Rights

•10 Resolutions for King George III

•Included the right to “life, liberty, and property.”

•Goal was not separation from Britain

•Goal = State concerns and ask King to correct the problems

•Patrick Henry = one of first to promote independence (Famous speech: “…give me liberty or give me death!”

•Colonists who chose to fight for independence became known as Patriots.

The Ride of Paul Revere

•Colonial militia preparations worried Britain

•Stockpile of weapons in Concord (20 miles from Boston)

•Massachusetts governor, Thomas Gage, sent British troops to seize weapons. Colonist learn of the plan-

•Robert Newman: climbs steeple at OldNorthChurch to watch for British (“One if by land, two if by sea…”)

•Two lights! -- Paul Revere and William Dawes rode to warn colonists.

•Local militia, minutemen, get ready for battle.

Battles at Lexington and Concord

•April 19, 1775– British troops arrived in Lexington and colonists fire the “shot heard ‘round the world.”

•They are badly outnumbered and quickly defeated

•Paul Revere arrested – Samuel Prescott warns citizens at Concord

•British Redcoats continue on to Concord

•Weapons were hidden

•British frustrated—burn buildings

•Minutemen attack—Redcoats = Easy Target!

•British retreat back to Boston and colonists pursue.

Second Continental Congress

•King George refuses to address Declaration of Rights

•May 1775 - Delegates from twelve colonies met in Philadelphia

•First attempt at Republican government (A republican form of government –named after the RomanRepublic--is a type of government in which the citizens have an active role in the government, and the government is not headed by a hereditary ruler such as a king.)

• Some called for peace, others for war.

•Compromised—created army but also sent Olive Branch Petition to King George III

•States to write new state constitutions

•Massachusetts militia became the Continental Army.

•Virginian, George Washington, became commander

•July 5—Olive Branch Petition

•Final attempt at peace

•King George III refuses

FortTiconderoga

•Patriots needed weapons

•May 10, 1775 – Benedict Arnold attacked British at FortTiconderoga to seize weapons. Colonial victory!

Battle of Bunker Hill (a.k.a. Breed’s Hill)

•British trapped in Boston

•Colonists fortified Breed’s Hill to prevent British escape from Boston.

•Army of 2,400 Redcoats fought 1,600 Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

•Americans eventually ran out of ammo and were forced to retreat--but it proved their strength

•

•More than 1,000 British casualties.

DorchesterHeights

•General Washington arrived in Boston and took command.

•Sends Colonel Henry Knox to get cannons from FortTiconderoga.

•March 1776--Washington moved his army to DorchesterHeights overlooking Boston

•Cannons and troops positioned on Nook’s Hill—overlooking British General Howe

•The British were forced to retreat.

•Colonists control Boston!