1. Beginnings of Revolution
- British general Thomas Gage put Boston under
martial (military) law for 2 months
- offered pardons to those people who refused
to fight against the British and took an oath
of allegiance to the king
Ft. Ticonderoga, NY
- Ethan Allen (Green Mt. Boys), Benedict Arnold
- captured the British fort, victory for the
colonists
Breed’s Hill/Bunker Hill
- June 16, 1775
- Colonists ran out of ammo, British won
- Boston under martial law for 9 more months,
colonists needed more than a militia
- first battle of the American Revolution

2. Second Continental Congress (May 1775)
- all 13 colonies met (even asked Canadians to
join, but they refused)
- wanted all North American British colonies
(Canada, Florida, Jamaica and Barbados) to
join in the fight for independence
- agreed they needed to form a military
* Continental Army led by George
Washington
Olive Branch Petition (July 1775)
- last-ditch effort to cooperate with King
George III
- affirmed colonies loyalty to king, proposed a
sincere discussion of their differences
- King George refused to read it, called the
colonists “traitors”

3. Common Sense
- written by Thomas Paine
* claimed King George III wasn’t
treating the colonies well
* said it made sense for the
colonies to eventually become
independent from England
* increased colonial support for
independence
Declaration of Independence (July 1776)
- written primarily by Thomas Jefferson
- accepted on July 4, 1776
- three main parts:
* Preamble
* Body
* Declaration