Committee of Correspondence Samuel Adams formed a committee of correspondence, a group that regularly wrote letters and pamphlets reporting to other colonies on events in Massachusetts.

Committees of Correspondence related news about Intolerable Acts to other colonies. Since Boston Harbor was closed Boston needed food and other colonies helped out.

First Continental Congress Delegates from 12 colonies gathered in Philadelphia. All Colonies represented except Georgia

First Continental Congress Agreed to boycott all British goods and to stop exporting goods to Britain until Intolerable Acts were repealed.

First Continental Congress Urged each colony to set up a militia, which is an army of citizens who serve as soldiers in an emergency. Agreed to meet again the next year.

Shot Heard ‘round the World

Shot Heard ‘round the World http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZMmPWTwTHc

Minutemen

Minutemen Volunteer members of Mass.militia who kept their muskets at hand and were prepared to fight at a moment’s notice

General Thomas Gage

General Thomas Gage British commander Scouted out towns near Boston looking for arms Found arms in Concord 18 miles from Boston

April 18, 1775 700 British troops quietly leave Boston to seize the colonial arms. Gage wanted to capture Sam Adams and John Hancock, important leaders in the Sons of Liberty. Gage found out that they were hiding out at a house in Lexington.

Paul Revere’s Famous Ride Two lamps hung in Old North Church by Robert Newman (British coming by sea)

Paul Revere (sea route), William Dawes (land route), and Dr Paul Revere (sea route), William Dawes (land route), and Dr. Samuel Prescott (was in Lexington) had to warn Adams, Hancock, the minutemen and Sons of Liberty members that the British “regulars” were coming.

Battles of Lexington and Concord April 18-19, 1775 4

On to Concord… The three men get arrested by the British… Prescott was the only rider to reach Concord.

April 19 - Lexington…. 100 militiamen under Captain Parker British outnumbered the militia and ordered them to go home. Some men begin to go home. Captain Parker wanted the minutemen to not back down. He said, “Stand your ground; don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.”

Suddenly a shot rang out - no one knows which side fired Shot heard round the world - first shot fired in battle and started the American Revolution. Eventually, this shot led to a new nation

Battle of Lexington Result of brief battle – 8 colonists died

British Push on to Concord British found no arms and began to march back towards Boston. Bridge outside of Concord British see 300 minutemen prepared to fight. British were forced to retreat - lost 73 men and 200 soldiers were wounded or missing.

Fighting Begins in the North

Lexington and Concord News spreads quickly 10,000-15,000 militia rushed towards Boston