The American Revolution

The Revolution Begins

The First Continental Congress

• The First Continental Congress meets in September 1774 in Philadelphia.

• The delegates debated on how to deal with Britain. Some want to end the conflict through violence and others want peace.

• The delegates compromised. Continue the boycott and warn militias to be ready.

• The Declaration of Resolves spells out the colonists rights. “life, liberty, and property”

The “Shot Heard Round the World”

• On April 18, 1775, Paul Revere, Samuel Prescott and William Dawes rode through the countryside warning that “the British are coming”

• April 19, 70 minutemen gathered to stop the British. Someone fires a “shot heard round the world”.

• The colonists suffered 8 dead and 10 wounded.

Lexington

Battle of Lexington Who were the men that warned the British

were coming on the night of April 18, 1775?

A. Sam Prescott

B. Paul Revere

C. William Dawes

D. All of the above

The Battle of Lexington

The “Shot Heard Round the World”

• The British marched to Concord and found no weapons. They burnt many buildings and returned to Boston.

• Using guerrilla warfare, the colonists attacked the British troops causing 250 causalities.

• The British made great targets with the straps on their uniforms. The Colonists called them Redcoats.

Concord

The Second Continental Congress

• The colonists decided not to break away from Britain.

• However, they form the Continental Army and put Gen. George Washington in command.

• Signed the Olive Branch Petition ( a sign of peace) on July 5, 1775. King George III rejected it.

Early Battles

• Fort Ticonderoga – Colonists, led by Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen, attacked this fort in New York. They secured a large number of supplies.

• Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill – Colonial forces surrounded Boston and placed cannons on top of the two hills. This gave them an advantage over the British.

Early Battles

• The British mounted a full frontal assault on the heights.

• The British causalities were around 1,000 while the colonists lost 400.

• Despite retreating this was a moral victory for the colonist. Why?

• Dorchester Heights – Cannons from Fort Ticonderoga were placed on top of Dorchester Heights. The cannons then forced the British to retreat from Boston to Canada.

Battle of Bunker Hill

The Battle of Bunker Hill

Washington at Dorchester Heights