1. Section 3-Polling Question
Have you ever disagreed with a policy enacted by the government?
A. Yes
B. No A B

2. Chapter 5 The Spirit of Independence (1763-1776)
Lesson 3 A Call to Arms

3. Essential Question
What brought about the clash between American colonists and British soldiers at Lexington and Concord?
What brought about the clash between American colonists and British soldiers at Lexington and Concord?

4. The Continental Congress
September 1774
55 delegates from the colonies (except Georgia) met in Philadelphia
Met to represent American interests and challenge British control
CLASS NOTES

5. Delegates to the Congress
Massachusetts sent Samuel Adams and his cousin John Adams
New York sent John Jay
Virginia sent Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, and George Washington
Patrick Henry said “I am not a Virginian, but an American”

6. Decisions of the Congress
The Delegates drafted grievances calling for a repeal of the acts
Voted to boycott British trade
Called for people to arm themselves against the British
People formed militias (groups of citizen soldiers)
CLASS NOTES

7. Training Militias Mostly in New England Had training sessions
Made bullets
Stockpiled rifles and muskets
Minutemen were ready to fight on a minute’s notice

8. Britain Sends Troops
King George said the New England Colonies were “in a state of rebellion”
George realized that fighting was going to happen
By April 1775, several thousand British soldiers were in and around Boston
Many more were on their way
Under the command of Thomas Gage, the British were to take the weapons of the militias
Also arrest the leaders

9. Militia Weapons
Gage learned that the weapons and ammunition was at Concord
About 20 miles northwest of Boston
Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith and 700 troops were sent to Concord
“Where you will seize and destroy all the artillery and ammunition you can find”

10. Alerting the Colonists
On the night of April 18th, 1775 Dr. Joseph Warren saw the British begin to march out of Boston
Warren told Paul Revere and William Dawes (Both members of the sons of liberty)
They rode to Lexington to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock
“The British are coming” “The regulars are out!”
Adams said “What a glorious morning this is!” ready to fight for independence

11. The Redcoats March On At dawn the Redcoats approached Lexington
70 minutemen were there led by John Parker
Minutemen stood on the town common with muskets in hand
The British yelled “Throw down your arms, ye villains, ye rebels!”

12. The Shot Heard Round The World
Somebody fired, then both sides exchanged bullets
8 minutemen were dead
The British troops moved to take the ammunition, but most had already been moved
They destroyed the remaining supplies
At Concord’s North Bridge, the Minutemen turned back the British

13. Marching Back to Boston from Lexington and Concord
Blacksmiths, farmers, clerks, and others hid behind trees and stone fences
The militia fired at them as they marched
By the time they reached Boston, at least 174 were injured and 73 were dead
The battle for independence had begun
CLASS NOTES

14. Benedict Arnold Commander of the Connecticut militia
Was authorized to take Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain
Ticonderoga had needed military supplies
Ethan Allen helped with this attack with his Green Mountain Boys
They caught the British by surprise and they surrendered the fort on May 10th

15. Building Forces
Committees of Correspondence sent out calls for volunteers (helpers) to join the militias
The colonial militia was about 20,000 strong
The British and Colonists waited for who would make the next move

16. The Next Move
June 16th, 1775 about 1,200 militiamen under William Prescott
Set up fortifications at Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill across the harbor from Boston
The British decided to take the hill
Colonel Prescott said “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes”

17. Battle of Bunker Hill William Howe with 2,200 men
Crossed by boat to the beaches below Breeds Hills
Formed assault lines
Guns ready, drums beat, marched up the hill
15 paces away the Patriots began firing

18. More of the Battle of Bunker Hill
Twice the British rushed the hill
Twice they were turned back
American gunpowder ran out
British took the hill
Patriots viewed this as a victory
Over 1,000 redcoats were killed or wounded- 400 Patriot casualties
Patriots held its own against the world’s most powerful army
The British learned that defeating the Americans would not be quick or easy

19. Choosing Sides Americans had to make a choice
Join the rebels or remain loyal to Great Britain
Those that stayed with the British were called Loyalists
Those that sided with the Minutemen were called Patriots
This war was not just between the British and the Americans, but a civil war between the colonists
Patriots against Loyalists
CLASS NOTES

20. Essential Question
What brought about the clash between American colonists and British soldiers at Lexington and Concord?
-Americans were arming themselves and expected an armed confrontation with British troops.
-The British gave the Americans an excuse to confront them when British soldiers were ordered to march to Concord and seize artillery and weapons.
What brought about the clash between American colonists and British soldiers at Lexington and Concord?