The American Revolution Begins …

Please Stop the Taxes! Colonists from 12 of the colonies held a meeting anyway in Philadelphia (This meeting was the First Continental Congress Meeting). They wanted to stay loyal to the King of England. They decided to send a letter to him asking him to end the tax on tea. The King refused to read the letter and responded by sending ships full of English soldiers to Boston.

Minutemen for Militias! The colonists claimed it didn’t matter that England was sending soldiers because they could fight in a minute’s notice. These colonists were called minutemen. Some minutemen hid weapons in Concord Massachusetts. (It’s a town near Boston). But the English soldiers (or redcoats) soon learned about the weapons.

The British head to Concord On the night of April 18, 1775, the British soldiers (redcoats) marched to Concord, Massachusetts to take the weapons from the colonial minutemen. Get me your weapons Nope

Give us your weapons!! No!

I’m Paul revere and I'm a patriot There were several patriots in the colonies. A patriot was colonist who wanted independence freedom) from England. A famous patriot was named Paul Revere. Revere was willing to risk his life to fight against England for freedom. I’m Paul revere and I'm a patriot

THE BRITISH ARE COMING!! As the redcoats headed to Concord, Massachusetts Paul Revere and another rider mounted their horses. They then rode as fast as they could toward Lexington and Concord Massachusetts yelling “The British are coming!! The British are coming!!!” Paul Revere was able to wake up enough of the colonial minutemen so they would be prepared to fight. The British are coming!

Lexington and Concord The next day on April 19, 1775 the English redcoats and colonial minutemen began to fight at in an open field at Lexington and Concord. The shots fired at Lexington and Concord in 1775 would represent the start of the American Revolution. America was on the road to freedom from England!!

Lexington and Concord 1775

Preparing for War In preparation for a fight at Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill) Rebels seek arms at Fort Ticonderoga. Henry Knox formulates the idea/plan to raid and take the cannons and ammunition from Fort Ticonderoga. The Green Mtn. Boys led by Ethan Allen take over British run Ft. Ticonderoga.

A last attempt to avoid conflict, the colonists send the Olive Branch Petition (written by John Dickinson) The Olive Branch Petition declared the colonists loyalty to King George and asked him to repeal the Intolerable Acts. King George rejected the petition and vowed to punish any traitor.

Patriots-colonists who supported independence from British rule. Patriot Disadvantages: 1. Colonial forces were poorly organized and untrained. 2. They had few cannons, limited gunpowder, and NO navy. 3. Little $ 4. A small army (in #’s) Patriot Advantages: 1. Many Patriots had rifles and were a good shot. 2. They were fighting on there own soil (familiar with the territory). 3. They were inspired to win their freedom. 4. Dedicated leadership (G. Washington)

British Advantages: 1. Highly trained and experienced troops. 2. The biggest and best Navy. 3. More troops. 4. Surplus of funds ($) British Disadvantages: 1. British armies had to travel 3,000 miles 2. Orders and supplies took months to arrive. 3. Constant attacks by colonists during troop maneuvers.

Loyalists- American colonists who remained loyal to Britain Loyalists- American colonists who remained loyal to Britain. They were also known as Tories. The Battle of Bunker Hill- (June 16, 1775) Colonel Prescott at first stationed his troops at Bunker Hill. He soon noticed nearby Breed’s Hill and moved his troops. Breed’s Hill offered the colonists a better strategic position. British Gen. Howe attacked the Colonists at Breed’s Hill. It took the British three (3) separate charges to take Breed’s Hill -and then another post, Bunker Hill. The British lost between 1,400-1,500 troops The Colonists lost 350-450 troops. For patriots, the Battle of Bunker Hill was a bittersweet mixture of loss and victory. However, the loss strengthened their resolve to win the war.

In Jan. of 1776, the cannons finally arrived from Ft In Jan. of 1776, the cannons finally arrived from Ft. Ticonderoga, New York Washington placed these cannons on Dorchester Heights, overlooking the harbor where British ships and soldiers were housed. Gen. Howe knew he could not hold Boston and left with approximately 1,000 American loyalists. They set off to Halifax, Virginia

In the fall, Washington approved a bold plan In the fall, Washington approved a bold plan. The Continental army would invade Quebec, Canada This would be led by Benedict Arnold. This attacked failed and the weakened Continental army limped back home