1. The American Revolution
American History I - Unit 2

2. WARM UP – FEBRUARY 19
EVERYONE GRAB THE “DECLARING INDEPENDENCE” GUIDED NOTES HANDOUT AND TIMELINE HANDOUT - ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS AT THE TOP OF THE GUIDED NOTES:
1. Why did the colonists feel that the British Parliament had no right to tax them?
2. How did the colonists view the event called the “Boston Massacre?”
3. How did Great Britain react to the Boston Tea Party?

3. 2.2 – DECLARING INDEPENDENCE

4. Preparing for Conflict
First Continental Congress – “colonies should fight back if England uses force”  PREPARATION! (but not independence yet)
Many eastern New England towns formed militias made of Minutemen
Militia – ordinary citizens who perform military actions
Minutemen - Another word for the colonial militia men who fought in the American Revolution
Colonists began stockpiling guns and ammunition

5. Revere’s Ride March 1775 - British General Gage hears…
There is a large stockpile of guns/ammunition hidden outside of Boston in the small town of Concord.
John Hancock and Samuel Adams are staying in Lexington, near Concord
Gage ordered Redcoats (British troops) to confiscate stockpile and arrest Hancock and Adams
Paul Revere, member of the Sons of Liberty, saw Redcoats organizing in Boston and organized a network of riders to warn colonists of British actions

6. Revere’s Ride
April Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott rode in the night to spread the word of British troop movement toward Lexington and Concord.
Colonists rang bells and shot guns (prearranged signals) to warn others of the troops
Before Concord, Revere was captured and questioned at gunpoint by British troops
Dawes escaped but did not finish the ride.
Prescott escaped and continued to Concord to warn colonists and Minutemen.

7. Lexington
By morning, when Redcoats reached Lexington, 70 Minutemen were waiting.
British commander ordered Minutemen to disarm and leave
Colonists remained armed
SOMEONE shot their gun
Shots then fired from both sides
Battle of Lexington
15 minutes
18 Minutemen killed/wounded
1 Redcoat injured

8. Concord
Redcoats marched on to Concord and found an empty arsenal and 3,000-4,000 Minutemen waiting
British attempted to march to Boston but Minutemen fired on them
Many Recoats killed
Remaining Redcoats hurried to Boston, humiliated
Lexington and Concord (April 1775) – considered the first battles of the American Revolution
“The shot heard around the world.”

9. Militia (Minutemen) are disorganized, but somewhat effective because they catch the Redcoats off guard
Redcoats – marching in straight lines with defined Generals and Commanders

10. Second Continental Congress
Summer Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia
Delegates from the colonies met to discuss plans of action  much debate over what to do next
Named the colonial army the Continental Army
Chose George Washington (43 yrs) to be Commander in Chief of army
Authorized the printing of colonial money to pay troops and deal with foreign nations
NOT officially declaring independence yet… just preparing for war

11. Battle of Bunker Hill
June 1775 – Redcoats humiliated and ready to fight
Marched to an area outside of Boston near Bunker Hill where some Minutemen were stationed
Battle of Bunker Hill – June 1775
Minutemen held fire until the last moment
“Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”
Redcoats stormed the hill 3 times
Last surge was successful, Minutemen ran out of ammo
British victory, bloodiest battle of the war
450 Minutemen wounded
1,000 Redcoats killed/wounded

12. Olive Branch Petition
July 1775 – Second Continental Congress still in session
Most colonists still considered themselves British citizens (very angry British citizens)
Olive Branch Petition
July 1775
Sent by the Congress to King George III
Urged a return to the “former harmony” between England and the colonies
Last ditch effort for peace

13. Olive Branch Petition REJECTED by King George III
Declared the colonies in rebellion
Urged Parliament to order a naval blockade (cut off trading) on the American coast
Colonies are in rebellion!
I will cut off their trade to suffocate them financially!
I have a giant hat.

14. Common Sense Changes Colonists’ Minds
January 1776 – anonymous pamphlet (50 pgs) circulated the colonies
Common Sense (Thomas Paine)
Attacked King George III
“Destiny” for the colonies to become a separate nation
Trade freely with other nations
Get foreign aid to defeat England
Develop a better society based on equality
500,000 copies sold
Why significant? - Very influential in persuading undecided colonists to support independence

15. Summer 1776 Colonies ready to declare independence as a unit
NC already declared independence
VA wanted to follow NC
Second Continental Congress (still in session), debates declaring independence
Thomas Jefferson appointed to prepare a formal declaration explaining the rebellion and desire to be free

16. Declaration of Independence
1776
Written by Thomas Jefferson
Based on the ideas of John Locke (Enlightenment thinker)
People have “natural rights”…
Life
Liberty
Pursuit of happiness
Government gets its power from its citizens (the “consent of the governed”).
People should rebel against a government that denies its citizens these “unalienable rights.”

17. Declaration of Independence
“All men are created equal…”
The belief that FREE MALE citizens are equals and should be treated so by the government.
NOT including women, Native Americas, and African American slaves… or really any poor person
July 2, 1776 – Congress voted to officially “rebel” or be free
July 4, 1776 – adopted and signed the Declaration of Independence

18. Americans Choose Sides
Patriots
Loyalists (Tories)
Supported American independence
Remained loyal to England
Farmers, merchants, artisans, landowners, elected officials
Quakers (but didn’t fight)
African American slaves (maybe freedom if America wins?)
Who?
Judges, Councilors, or Governors
Lived in rural areas – didn’t know of the events in the cities
Native Americans (viewed as smaller threat than colonists)
African American slaves (maybe freedom if England wins?)
New opportunities for economic gains
Why not – can it get worse?
Why?
Didn’t want to be punished as rebels if British won
Scared of new government