THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONAmerican History I - Unit 2

Ms. Brown

Review• Why did the colonists feel that the British Parliament had no

right to tax them?• Colonists had no representation in Parliament to make known their needs

and desires

• Who were the Sons of Liberty?• Led by Samuel Adams, secretive group of colonists that resisted British

control

• How did the colonists view the event called the “Boston Massacre?”• Colonists viewed the Boston Massacre as a British attack on defenseless

colonists, even though it’s still unknown who fired first

• How did GB react to the Boston Tea Party?• Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts – shut down Boston Harbor,

forced colonists to house British soldiers, and placed Boston under martial law

2.2 – DECLARING INDEPENDENCE

Preparing for Conflict• First Continental Congress –

“colonies should fight back if England uses force” PREPARATION!

• Many eastern New England towns formed militias made of Minutemen• Militia – ordinary citizens who perform

military actions• Minutemen - Another word for the

colonial militia men who fought in the American Revolution

• Stockpile of guns and ammunition

Revere’s Ride• March 1775 - British

General Gage hears…• There is a large stockpile of

guns/ammunition hidden outside of Boston in the small town of Concord.

• John Hancock and Samuel Adams are staying in Lexington, near Concord

• Sends troops to destroy stockpile and arrest Hancock and Adams

• Paul Revere, member of the Sons of Liberty, saw troops organizing in Boston and organized a network of riders to warn colonists of British actions

Revere’s Ride• April 1775 - Revere, William

Dawes, and Samuel Prescott rode in the night to spread the word of British movement toward Lexington and Concord.• Colonists rang bells and shot guns (prearranged signals) to warn

others of the British

• Before Concord, Revere was captured and questioned at gunpoint by British• Dawes escaped but did not finish the ride.• Prescott escaped and continued to Concord to warn colonists and

Minutemen.

Lexington• By morning, when Redcoats reached Lexington, 70

Minutemen were waiting.• British commander ordered Minutemen to disarm and leave• Colonists remained armed• SOMEONE shot their gun• Shots then fired from both sides

• Battle of Lexington• 15 minutes• 18 Minutemen killed/wounded• 1 Redcoat injured

Concord• Redcoats marched on to Concord found an empty

arsenal and 3,000-4,000 Minutemen waiting

• British attempted to march to Boston but Minutemen fire on them• Many Recoats killed• Remaining Redcoats hurry to Boston, humiliated

• Lexington and Concord (April 1775) – considered the first battles of the American Revolution• “The shot heard around the world.”

Redcoats – marching in straight lines with defined Generals and Commanders

Militia (Minutemen) are disorganized, but somewhat effective because they catch the Redcoats off guard

Second Continental Congress• Summer 1775 - Second Continental Congress in

Philadelphia• Delegates from the colonies met to discuss plans of action much

debate over what to do next• Named the colonial army the Continental Army• Chose George Washington (43 yrs) to be Commander in Chief of

army• Authorized the printing of colonial

money to pay troops and deal with foreign nations

• NOT officially declaring independence yet… just preparing for war

Battle of Bunker Hill• June 1775 – Redcoats humiliated and ready to fight

• Marched to an area outside of Boston near Bunker Hill where some Minutemen were stationed

• Battle of Bunker Hill – June 1775• Minutemen held fire until the last

moment• “Don’t fire until you see the whites of

their eyes!”• Redcoats stormed the hill 3 times

• Last surge was successful, Minutemen ran out of ammo• British victory, bloodiest battle of war

• 450 Minutemen wounded• 1,000 Redcoats killed/wounded

Olive Branch Petition• July 1775 – Second Continental Congress still in session

• Most colonists still considered themselves British citizens (very angry British citizens)

• Olive Branch Petition• July 1775• Sent by the Congress to King

George III• Urged a return to the “former harmony”

between England and the colonies• Last ditch effort for peace

Olive Branch Petition• REJECTED by King George III

• Declared the colonies in rebellion• Urged Parliament to order a naval blockade (cut off trading) on the

American coast

Colonies are in rebellion!

I will cut off their trade to suffocate them

financially!

I have a giant hat.

Common Sense Changes Colonists’ Minds• January 1776 – anonymous

pamphlet (50 pgs) circulated the colonies

• Common Sense (Thomas Paine)• Attacked King George III• “Destiny” for the colonies to become a

separate nation• Trade freely with other nations• Get foreign aid to defeat England• Develop a better society based on

equality

• 500,000 copies sold

• Very influential in persuading undecided colonists to support independence

Summer 1776• NC already declared

independence• VA wants to follow NC

• Second Continental Congress (still in session), debates declaring independence• Thomas Jefferson appointed to

prepare a formal declaration explaining the rebellion and desire to be free

Declaration of Independence• 1776• Written by Thomas Jefferson

• Based on the ideas of John Locke (Enlightenment thinker)• People have “natural rights”…

• Life• Liberty• Pursuit of happiness

• Government gets its power from its citizens (the “governed”).

• People should rebel against a government that denies its citizens these “unalienable rights.”

Declaration of Independence• “All men are created equal…”

• The belief that FREE citizens are equals and should be treated so by the government.

• NOT including women, Native Americas, and African American slaves… or really any poor person

• July 2, 1776 – Congress voted colonies to be free• July 4, 1776 – adopted and signed the Declaration of

Independence

Americans Choose SidesPatriots Loyalists (Tories)

Supported American independence

Remained loyal to England

• Farmers, merchants, artisans, landowners, elected officials

• Quakers (but didn’t fight)

• African American slaves (maybe freedom if America wins?)

Who? • Judges, Councilors, or Governors

• Lived in rural areas – didn’t know of the events in the cities

• Native Americans (viewed as smaller threat than colonists)

• African American slaves (maybe freedom if England wins?)

• New opportunities for economic gains

• Why not – can it get worse?

Why? • Didn’t want to be punished as rebels if British won

• Scared of new government