The document summarizes the key events leading up to and during the American Revolutionary War from 1774 to 1776. It describes the First Continental Congress agreeing to non-importation of British goods. The Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775 marked the first military engagements of the war. In response, colonists converged on Boston and the Second Continental Congress assumed management of the war and diplomatic efforts. Thomas Paine's pamphlet "Common Sense" advocated for American independence, influencing public opinion. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.

1.  September 5, 1774
— October 27, 1774
 “Give me Liberty or
Give me Death”
 55 Delegates
 Outline for new
government
 Discuss what
action to take
Pre Revolutionary War

2.  Declaration of Rights and Grievances
 Loyalty to the king
 Colonist urged to “learn the art of war”
 Condemned the Intolerable Acts
 Colonies to form a non-importation
assoc.
 Agree to non-consumption of British
goods
Pre Revolutionary War

4. Committee of Inspection and
Safety
 John Hancock head in Boston
 Enforces non-
importation/consumption
Oaths are signed
Publishes names of violators

6.  Can call up militia
 Minutemen (Concord)
 By 1774-1775 Britain considers the colonies in rebellion

7.  Loyalists
 Opposed colonial actions
 GA, NY, Carolinas

8.  Loyalists
 Believed Patriots had lose all respect
for political institutions
 Tenement farmers opposed Patriot
landlords

10.  Opposed Britain
 NE, VA
 Farmers feared less land and more taxes
 Land speculators feared lost land and a
chance at money

11.  Plantation holders feared
 Slaves who fought for the crown would be
given freedom
 Financial dependence on Britain
 Lose of political power

13.  April 1775
 General Gage
 History of using force
 Ordered to take decisive action
 Attempts to take colonial munitions
stores in Concord, MA

14.  April 1775
 700 Redcoats leave Boston for
Lexington/Concord
 Paul Revere’s ride

15.  Militia meets the
British in Lexington
 Battle lasts 20 minutes
 (no turning back)

16.  First encounter of the
Revolutionary War
 2-3 minutes
 British forced to
retreat
 Face guerilla attacks
back to Boston

17.  Americans considered
the contest an
encouraging start to the
war
 20,000 militia
volunteers sign up
 Converge on Boston

18.  May 1775
 Assumed management of the war.
 Makeshift government for the new United
States
 They began sending diplomats to France
to seek aid in their war effort.

19.  Acts as an
independent
government
 Negotiates with
Natives
 Create postal
system
 Creates
Navy/Marines

20.  Urgent need for
defense
 Militia becomes
Continental army
 Appointed George
Washington as the
general of a
"Continental
Army”

21.  Attack Quebec to
make British give
into demands
 Get French
support (no luck)

22. Agreements could be met?
Need a final plea to the king

25.  June 16, 1775
 “Don’t fire until you see
the whites of their
eyes”
 Take hills around
Boston
 2200-2400 troops
 Militia is ready
 Overnight they build
an earthen wall

27.  June 1775
 British win but the
it build colonial
confidence
 (1000 Brits lost vs.
370 Colonists)
 British troops now
trapped in Boston

30.  Affirms loyalty to the king
 Looking for redress
 Places guild for all the issues on Parliament
 Not to offend king
 Not unanimous
 King George III will not receive it
 Presented to 2nd Earl of Dartmouth -
Secretary of State for the Colonies

32.  King’s proclamation
 “Americans now in a
state of rebellion”
 Treason if you help
 Radicals in 2nd
Congress can now
press for war

33.  Thomas Paine
 Independence from
England
 Creation of a
democratic republic.

34.  Refuted the prevailing
ideas against
independence.
 Proper relationship
between the colonies
and the mother
country.

36.  “one of the most artful, insidious, and pernicious
pamphlets..”
 “It is addressed to the passions of the populace at a
time when their passions are much inflamed…when
cool reason and judgment are too apt to stop.”
 “I find no Common Sense in this pamphlet, but much
uncommon frenzy.”

37.  July 4, 1776
 Political Theory behind the document

38.  Written in 1777, it was not adopted until 1781.
 A functioning government.
 Clumsy and inefficient.
 No authority to draw on resources from the individual
colonies, now states, except by request
 Congress authorized the first printing of American
money, $1 million in bills of credit, on June 22, 1775

39.  N0 Executive Branch
 No Judicial Branch
 Each state had its own court system.
 Legislative Branch - each state had 1 vote.
 The Congress elected a president to preside over
Congress.

40.  Passing a Law
 Nine of the 13 states must vote in favor of it.
 Amending
 Every state had to agree.
 Raising an Army
 No power to raise an army.
 Could only ask states to send soldiers.

41.  Taxing
 No power to tax.
 Could only ask states for tax money.
 Controlling Trade
 No power to control trade between the states or with
other nations.
 Bill of Rights - none.