B EGINNING OF THE A MERICAN R EVOLUTION

They had just met in the First Continental Congress hoping to resolve their issues with England. They told England to repeal the Intolerable Acts or there would be boycotts. England refused and sent troops.

M IDNIGHT R IDE OF P AUL R EVERE Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Wentworth Cheswell ride through the colonies to warn the Colonists that the British were attacking. “The British are coming!!”

L EXINGTON AND C ONCORD

British hear rumor that… ● Sam Adams and John Hancock are in Lexington ● There is a large store of weapons and ammo in Concord They decide to arrest Adams and Hancock and take control of the weapons.

L EXINGTON AND C ONCORD April 19, British troops reach Lexington Met with 70 militia who refuse to give up. No one knows who fired the first shot (“The Shot Heard Round the World” – Ralph Waldo Emerson) Within a few minutes, 8 militia men are dead. The British march on to Concord, but by then, the 4000 Minutemen and militia had arrived and line the road from Concord to Lexington. The British were in trouble…

L EXINGTON AND C ONCORD Although technically the first shots of the Revolution, war had NOT yet been officially declared.

S ECOND C ONTINENTAL C ONGRESS Declares George Washington the Commander of the Continental Army. Continental Army – Army of the Patriots

B ATTLE OF B UNKER H ILL June 16, 1775 Militiamen seize Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill (they overlook the city of Boston!) Build a fort on the hill British worry about the fort and decide to attack Tug of war battle The colonists begin to run out of gunpowder.

One of the generals tells the soldiers, “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes” to save ammunition. The Redcoats finally win but 1000 were killed or wounded compared to only 400 militia. Considered a moral victory for Continental Army because they held off the world’s most powerful army. B ATTLE OF B UNKER H ILL

O LIVE B RANCH P ETITION Colonists send a request to find a solution to the King. He refuses to even read it. The King declares that the Colonist are in an rebellion and orders his troops to end the rebellion!

COMMON SENSE At this point, the colonists have still not declared independence. People begin to argue for and against independence. Thomas Paine writes a very popular pamphlet called “Common Sense” arguing that it only makes sense for the colonists to rule themselves

D ECLARATION OF I NDEPENDENCE Finally! On July 4, 1776, the colonists officially declare independence from England! Written by Thomas Jefferson Wanted to ensuring their Unalienable Rights by including this statement… ● "That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." Lists colonial grievances against the King.

D ECLARATION OF I NDEPENDENCE Reasons for writing it.. 1. To declare independence (of course!) 2. To unify the people ● About 1/3 were Patriots, 1/3 were Loyalists, and 1/3 were undecided. 3. To appeal to other countries for support ● Make their struggle public in this document.

D ECLARATION OF I NDEPENDENCE What’s NOT in the document is just as important as what IS… Does not mention Parliament ● All the blame is placed on King George III Does not discuss the rights of Englishmen ● Other countries wouldn’t care about the rights of an Englishman, only about natural rights.

D ECLARATION OF I NDEPENDENCE Does NOT mention slavery ● Although it was in the draft, it was removed by the Continental Congress. They wanted to unite the country and slavery was a controversial topic. Better to leave it out.

C HOOSING SIDES Forced colonists to choose sides ● Loyalist – Wanted to remain loyal subjects of the King ● Patriot – Wanted to fight for independence from England.