1. The American Revolution
On February 9, 1775, Parliament declares the colony of Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion.

2. Battles of Lexington and Concord- April 19, 1775
General Gage orders 700 British troops to seize an American arsenal in the town of Concord, MA.
Arsenal: a collection of weapons and military equipment stored by a country, person, or group

3. Battles of Lexington and Concord
Boston’s “Committee of Safety” discovers troop movement on the evening of April 18, 1775.
Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott are sent to warn the militia in Lexington and Concord.
Paul Revere makes it to Lexington in time to warn John Hancock and Sam Adams, but is captured.
Samuel Prescott makes it all the way to Concord.
70 Minute Men block the road to Lexington- they are out- numbered 10:1.

4. Battles of Lexington and Concord
Gun fire breaks out- 8 Minute Men are killed 10 are wounded; 1 British soldier is wounded.
The 450 British move on to Concord, but the Colonists have already hidden all the weapons and ammunition.
On the way back to Boston, local farmers harass the British soldiers, and General Gage sends 800 more soldiers to help major Pitcairn.- a shot is fired, no one knows on which side, and fighting breaks out
273 British solider are killed, wounded or go missing; 93 Colonists are killed or wounded

5. Battles of Lexington and Concord
Becomes known as “The shot heard ‘round the world” and is marked as the beginning of the American Revolution

6. Battle of Bunker Hill June 16-17, 1775
First major battle: 1200 Colonial Militia defend Breed’s Hill against British soldiers
The British finally capture the hill after the Militia run out of ammunition- but this is still considered a victory for the Colonists
British: 226 killed, 828 wounded
Colonists: 140 killed, 271 wounded, 30 prisoners of war

7. The Declaration of Independence
Written by a committee of 5: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston.
Passed by the Second Continental Congress on July 2, and officially adopted July 4, 1776.
The Declaration is the most concise statement of liberal philosophy ever written
Concise: Giving a lot of information; clear and to the point.

8. The Declaration of Independence
Restatement of John Locke’s idea of government as a contract between the people and the rulers.
Justifies the Colonists actions of taking the law into their own hands by listing the injustices they suffered.
Also was intended to impress the French in order to convince them to help the Colonists fight the English, and get the Dutch to loan money.
Hoped to persuade Colonists who were either neutral or loyal to the King to support the Patriot cause for Revolution.