What did the 1st one do?

Demanded the repeal of the Intolerable Acts

Said only the colonies could tax the colonies.

Called for training militias

Called for Boycotts

Round 2: They meet in Philadelphia after Lexington and Concord.

2nd Continental Congress

Most of the colonists are still not really pro

revolution at this point.

New England vs. the Middle colonies

NE says independence!!! Why are they pushing for it?

-Middle Colonies say slow down….

Everyone agrees on one thing: We need an army.

Pro or Con

George Washington is chosen as the leader of the

Continental Army.

He is well respected, and has military experience.

Served as the colonial militia’s leader in the French and Indian War.

Remember him?

2nd Continental Congress started to print its own

money to pay the army.

Making decisions on war, printing money….what does this sound like?

They were acting like a government!

War is expensive.

Colonists in favor of independence: Patriots

Colonists loyal to the King: Loyalists.

1/3 Loyalists. Is that more than you thought?

1774-5: Patriots take over the government.

Patriots v. Loyalists

Landowners

Merchants

Think a rebellion might lead to a loss of property.

New government might have different rules.

Government officials owe their jobs to the king

Native Americans and slaves side with the Loyalists. Why?

Hoping to gain their freedom at the end of the war.

Why be a loyalist?

“So that the peace and good order of this colony may

be again restored…I do, by the authority to me given by His Majesty, determine to execute martial law….I do require every person capable of bearing arms to resort to His Majesty’s standard, or be looked upon as traitors to His Majesty’s… government and [subject to] the penalty…such as [loss] of life or lands….

Virginia, 1775

Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation

Even after Lexington and Concord, they hoped that

peace could be restored.

Congress passes a resolution: The Olive Branch Petition.

What do you think it said?

Who was it for?

Just one more chance!

Sent to King George.

Said that colonists were loyal to the king. Asked him to stop the fighting so they could solve things peacefully.

Congress passes a tougher statement; the Declaration

of the Causes and Necessities of Taking Up Arms.

Partially written by Thomas Jefferson, known from here on out as TJ.

Colonists were ready “to die freemen rather than to live as slaves.”

The following day…

Olive Branch Petitions: George never responded.

Ouch.

He declared the colonists in open rebellion.

Parliament voted to send 20,000 more soldiers to the colonies.

Results

May 10, 1775.

Northern NY- colonists made a surprise attack on Fort Ticonderoga.

Protected the water route to Canada.

Led by Ethan Allen, a blacksmith.

Green Mountain Boys, from VT.

Victory! For now…

83 men crossed Lake Champlain at night, surprised

them in the morning. Outnumbered the British, they surrendered almost immediately.

Why Ft. Ticonderoga?

1. Controlled land between Hudson River valley and Canada

2. Weapons!!

Took dozens of cannons to Boston. These helped GW drive the British out.

1775: 6,500 British troops in Boston. Americans had

10,000 surrounding the city. About 1,600 on Breed’s Hill.

Fire on ships in Boston Harbor.

Close to Bunker Hill, also controlled by Americans.

How well trained are the militias around Boston?

Not very. Farmers and workers, not fighters.

Gen. William Howe (B) decided to attack straight up the hill.

Commander Israel Putnam (A) knew they didn’t have much ammo… what was the famous advice given by Gen. Prescott?

Bunker Hill

Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!

So who won?

The British…or did they?

They did, but they lost 1000. Americans only lost 400.

Britain has more problems… city is still surrounded

by American forces.

July 1775- GW arrives in Boston.

Used the cannons from Ft. Ticonderoga- had them dragged on sleds for 300 miles. How long did it take?

3 months!

Put the cannons on the hill overlooking Boston.

March 1776- British withdrew by sea…and never came back.

America is holding its own, but the British still have

the advantage.

Navy

Transport troops

Transport supplies

Blockade- shut off the port by ships to keep people and supplies in or out.

Mercenaries

Soldiers who fight for another country for $

Not over yet

While GW is in Boston, 2 armies were led into

Canada.

Richard Montgomery from Ft. Ticonderoga.

Benedict Arnold through Maine.

Bad time. Had to boil candles, bark, shoe leather for food.

Attacked during a snowstorm. Didn’t go well.

M killed, A wounded.

1776- British forces arrive, Americans withdraw.

Canada