Leading up to the Declaration…

Lexington & Concord April 1775 British after militia supply of gunpowder and guns Minutemen at Lexington stood ready but were taken down. Minutemen at Concord hid the supply & were successful in pushing them back to Boston

Lexington & Concord

Second Continental Congress -Created the Continental Army and named Washington Commander-in- Chief. -Sent King George III The Olive Branch Petition -Asked to end the fighting

Common Sense Author-Thomas Paine Claimed King was a tyrant and the colonists needed to fight for Independence. ***Helped sway the way some colonists felt.***

Rumors Fly!! June 15, 1775: Talk is going around Boston that the British are going to try and take Bunker and Breeds Hill, which overlooked both Boston and the harbor, These are strategically valuable areas.

Bunker or Breeds Hill? General Prescott rushed to put his troops together and fortify Bunker hill. During the night Prescott took about 1,500 men onto the peninsula to fortify Bunker Hill When the British woke up in the morning they were surprised

Battle at Breeds Hill The British started firing on the Americans as soon as day broke. They stayed on the boats until 3pm when they decided to attack by foot. About 2,400 British troops attacked!

Outcome Officially…The British Won… British drove the Americans from Breed’s Hill and the peninsula, but they had many casualties: British troops and ~440 American troops. However, a month later George Washington drove the British out of Boston. Proved that the British were not invincible!

Flag on American Ships in Boston Harbor

Drafting the Declaration Second Continental Congress asks Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence. He needed to explain to the world why the colonies were separating from Britain.