Section 2: The Revolution Begins Chapter 2 Section 2: The Revolution Begins

Gaspee Affair: England will send custom ships to the colonies to monitor activity and intercept smugglers. Gaspee: British ship located off of Rhode Island whose commander was hated by the locals. June 1772: Ship ran aground and was seized and burned by American colonists. Results: British took the guilt y citizens back to England for trial (Violation of Rights). Thomas Jefferson suggested that each colony should create a Committee of Correspondence to communicate with one another.

Tea Act of 1773: Lord North (English Prime Minister) wanted to help the British East India Company which was almost bankrupt. Parliament passed a tax that would make the companies tea cheaper than the smuggled Dutch tea. Committees of Correspondences notified each colony about the new shipments of British tea.

Boston Tea Party: December 1773 British planned to send over 1200 chests of tea to NYC, Philadelphia, Boston, and Charlestown. CoC’s: Asked colonists to stage events against the tea shipments. Boston Harbor: Sons of Liberty disguised as Natives boarded the British ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor.

Coercive Acts (Spring 1774): King George III was outraged over Tea Party. Parliament will pass a series of acts to punish Massachusetts. Acts: Shut down Boston Harbor, Required all government positions to be appointed not elected, Allowed British troops to stand trial in England, Required the lodging of all British troops, and General Thomas Gage was appointed Governor of MA. These acts became known as Intolerable Acts.

First Continental Congress: 55 delegates representing 12 colonies met in Philadelphia. Some wanted concessions, others wanted revolt. Patrick Henry: “Give me liberty, or give me death”. September 5, 1774: Meeting takes place. Accomplishments: Declaration of Rights and Grievances: They expressed their loyalty to King George but condemned the Coercive Acts. Continental Association: Planned to form local committees to enforce boycott of British goods. They agreed to hold a Second Continental Congress in May 1775 if conflict was not resolved.

Revolution Begins: Summer/Fall 1774: Colonists created provincial congresses and militias raided British depots. In Massachusetts, the “Minutemen” began to drill for battle (Ready to fight in minutes). The rebellious actions of the colonists infuriates England. This revolution will not only be a war fought between the colonies and England, but also a civil war amongst the colonies.

The Two Sides: Loyalist (Tories): American colonists who remained loyal to King George III and felt that British law should be upheld. The group included government officials, prominent merchants, landowners (GA, SC, NC, and NY). Patriots (Whigs): Americans who wanted change and viewed George as a tyrant. Group included: Artisans, farmers, merchants, planters, lawyers (VA and NE). About half of the American population remained neutral.

Early Fighting: April 18, 1775: British General Thomas Gage and 7oo troops tried to seize the minutemen’s military supplies at Concord MA. They will pass through Lexington on their way. Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Dr. Samuel Prescott will warn that “The British are Coming”. April 19th: Gage’s men arrived in Lexington and were greeted by 70 Minutemen. Shots were fired signifying the beginning of the American Revolution. Concord: The British met up with 400 Minutemen and will eventually retreat to Boston.

Second Continental Congress: June 1775: Colonies sent representatives to Philadelphia to make a plan for defense. They adopted the Massachusetts minutemen who had the British surrounded in Boston (more British troops are on the way). June 15th: George Washington was appointed the head of the new Continental Army. Washington will leave Philadelphia and head for Boston.

Battle of Bunker Hill: June 17th 1775: General Gage sent 2200 red coats to attack the new Continental Army on the outskirts of Boston. William Prescott: American Commander who urges his men to “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes”. Prescott’s forces only retreated after they ran out of ammunition. Importance: It gave the Continental Army confidence, they could stand up to the world’s best army (British).

Decision for Independence: Frustrated by the British refusal to compromise, many colonists urged for independence. July 1775: Olive Branch Petition: Written by John Dickenson, it stated that the colonies were still loyal to England and asked for both armies to lay down their weapons for a compromise. Radicals in the Continental Congress called for an attack on British Quebec. Results: King George was outraged and refused the Olive Branch Petition.

Fighting Spreads: VA: Two loyalist armies were organized to assist the British. One = white colonists, One= African slaves. African Americans were promised their freedom if they fought with the British. This angered the Southern Planters because if we lost, they would lose their labor force. December 15, 1775: Prohibitory Act: Shuts down all British trade with the colonies and set up a naval blockade. England begins recruiting German mercenaries to help fight the Patriots (Hessians).

Common Sense: Thomas Paine: Author of Common Sense. This was a persuasive pamphlet which caused many colonists to call for independence. Paine personally attacked King George III and not British Parliament. It states that George was a tyrant!!!

Declaration of Independence:

The Document: July 4, 1776: A committee of Patriot leaders approved and signed a document written by Thomas Jefferson VA. Committee of Writers: Jefferson, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. This document signified the true beginning of the American Revolution.

4 Parts of Declaration: Preamble: Explains why the Continental Congress drew up the declaration. Declaration of Natural Rights: Colonies had certain natural rights that the government should protect. List of grievances: List of colonists complaints against the British government, especially George III. Resolution of Independence: Declares that the colonies were “free and independent”.