The Shots Heard Round the World The Revolution Begins The Shots Heard Round the World

A Time for Revolution Intolerable Acts convert many to independence Proof or arbitrary use of power & corruption Minutemen form in Mass. to resist British oppression

The Shot Heard Round the World Gen. Gage sends 700 British to arrest Samuel Adams & John Hancock and seize gunpowder Minutemen warned by Paul Revere & others Fighting begins April 17, 1775 at Lexington & Concord Begins the American Revolution (1775-81)

The Siege of Boston 20,000 colonials lay siege to the British in Boston April, 1775-March, 1776 Battle of Bunker’s Hill (June 17, 1775) British lose 1000 men

The Second Continental Congress Second Continental Congress opens on May 10, 1775 Independence Hall in Philadelphia All 13 colonies represented John Hancock chosen as President of Congress

The Continental Army Congress adopts the army besieging Boston as the Continental Army and appoints George Washington as commander-in-chief Forces the British to evacuate Boston

A Last Attempt at Reconciliation Many still oppose independence Loyalists supported the British About 1/3 of colonists Congress sends Olive Branch Petition (by John Dickenson) asking George III to protect rights of the colonists from Parliament

The Final British Provocation George III rejects the Olive Branch petition Declares the colonies to be in revolt Orders 25,000 soldiers including German (Hessian) mercenaries to the colonies to end the rebellion Convinces many more of the need for independence

The Final Push to Independence Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense in 1776 American independence is common sense “an island cannot rule a continent” a “true mother” nation would not mistreat its child so badly God created America to be independent Converts thousands to independence

The Final Push to Independence Effort led in Congress by John Adams & Franklin N.C. is first to instruct delegates to support independence in the Halifax Resolves Richard Henry Lee proposes independence on May 10, 1776

Independence!!!! Congress votes unanimously for independence on July 2, 1776 Declaration of Independence signed on July 4, 1776 Written by Thomas Jefferson