Chapter 5, Section 3 A Call to Arms

The Continental Congress Who were they ? When did they meet? Where did the meet? Why did they establish it? Major political leaders from the colonies September, 1774 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania To establish a political body to represent American interests and challenge British control

3 Important People at the Continental Congress John Adams George Washington Patrick Henry

“The distinction between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers and New Englanders are no more…I am not a Virginian but an American.”

What did they draft ? What did they vote for ? They drafted a statement of grievances for the repeal of 13 acts of Parliament passed since 1763 Voted to boycott all British goods & trade Called for Militias- a group of citizen soldiers

The First Battles The colonists believed that if fighting with England breaks out, it will be in New England. The Minutemen were militia who were ready ‘at a minute’s notice’.

British general Thomas Gage in charge of several thousand soldiers around Boston Learned militia were storing ammunition at Concord – about 20 miles NW of Boston Ordered soldiers to seize and destroy all ammo they could find

Alerting the Colonists Dr. Joseph Warren alerted Paul Revere and William Dawes, leading Sons of Liberty. They rode to Lexington, a town east of Concord to warn Sam Adams and John Hancock that the British were coming!

Fighting at Lexington & Concord At dawn the redcoats met up with 70 minutemen led by Captain John Parker Shots were fired and 8 minutemen were killed British troops marched to Concord where more fighting with the militia occurred. The minutemen were waiting for them.

By the end of the fighting, 174 were wounded and 73 were dead. Ralph Waldo Emerson said the Americans at Lexington and Concord fired “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World”.

More Military Action Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen captured Fort Ticonderoga. This was important because it was strategically located & rich in military supplies.

Battle of Bunker Hill This battle took place on June 16 th, 1775 under the colonial leadership of William Prescott. Short of ammunition, Prescott told his troops “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes”. Although Britain won this battle, it showed the British that defeating the Americans would not be easy.

PATRIOTS vs. LOYALIST What is the difference between a PATRIOT and a LOYALIST ? PATRIOT-American colonists who believed that the colonies had the right to govern themselves. LOYALIST – American colonists who were loyal to the British government.