2. First Continental Congress Met on September 5, 1774 in Philadelphia 55 delegates represented 12 colonies Believed that a compromise with Britain was possible Published the “Declaration of Rights and Grievances” Loyalty to the King Condemned Intolerable Acts
3. Massachusetts Militia Mass. did not want to wait for a compromise They formed a militia and began training The men were called “Minutemen”
4. Loyalists and Patriots The colonies were divided Colonists who stayed loyal to the king were called “Loyalists” or “Tories” Colonists opposed to the king were called “Patriots” or “Whigs”
5. Lexington and Concord The MA militia began storing supplies in the town of Concord The British wanted to destroy the supplies before they could be used Bostonians heard of this and formed a plan Robert Newman was to use the steeple of the Old North Church as a lookout If the British were coming by land, he would hang one lantern in the steeple If the British were coming by sea, up the Charles River, he would hang two lanterns in the steeple “One if by land, two if by sea” Paul Revere, William Dawson and Dr. Samuel Prescott were watching the steeple When Newman hung two lanterns, the men road to Lexington
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8. Lexington and Concord Revere reached Lexington near midnight, April 18, 1775 John Hancock and Samuel Adams were in Lexington They road away, escaping capture 70 minutemen gathered on the Lexington Green When the British arrived on the morning of April 19, they ordered the colonists to put down their arms A shot rang out and the British open fire 8 colonists died, 10 were wounded The colonists dispersed
9. Lexington and Concord The British continued on to Concord Most of the weapons had been moved or hidden The British returned to Boston Over 4,000 colonists harassed them on their march back British: 73 killed, 174 wounded, 53 missing Colonists: 49 killed, 39 wounded, 5 missing The Revolution had officially begun
11. Second Continental Congress Met in May, 1775 Still divided, some hoped to reconcile Produced the Declaration of Independence Written mostly by Thomas Jefferson Approved and mailed on July 4, 1776 Signed over a year after the Congress started Defined the basic principles of the new government
12. Battle of Bunker Hill June 17, 1775 British General Thomas Gage attacks militiamen north of Boston 2,400 redcoats storm up Breed’s Hill Colonists wait “until they see the whites of their eyes” then fire British retreat, regroup and recharge Colonists push them back again British regroup and charge one last time This time they are successful because the colonists run out of ammunition 311 colonists and over 1,000 British die
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14. Battle of New York Summer of 1776 British retreat from Boston and attack New York in an attempt to isolate New England 32,000 British along with thousands of Hessians attack Washington and 23,000 militiamen In late August, Washington retreats after suffering heavy losses The British chase Washington’s army all the way to the Delaware River where 8,000 troops remained
15. Battle of Trenton Washington was in desperate need of a victory The militia enlistments expired on Dec. 31 and they had no reason to reenlist On Christmas night, 1776, Washington lead 2,400 soldiers across the Delaware River
17. Battle of Trenton The troops hiked nine miles to Trenton, NJ, a city held by Hessians The Hessians were hung over, sleeping, and surprised Washington’s men killed 30 and took 918 captive The militia got needed supplies and a much needed victory Many men reenlisted that night The army camped near Trenton for the rest of the winter
18. Saratoga British General Burgoyne attempted to march a large army down from Quebec to try to separate New England from the rest of the colonies Burgoyne got bogged down in the thick forests and swamps of upstate New York Colonists practiced Guerilla warfare on Burgoyne’s troops Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga, NY on October 17, 1777 This was an important victory for the colonists The British refused to send any armies inland again
19. Effects of Saratoga British morale fell American morale jumped French confidence in the colonists grew and they recognized America’s independence In February, 1778, the French entered into alliance with America
