The Conflict Begins 1774-1777

National Identity The colonies continue to defy Britain The Gaspee Affair Boston Tea Party Continued British coercion begins to unite the colonies Committees of Correspondence – Groups in each colony who write letters and news articles to other colonies about Britain’s activities. Uniting behind common information and a common enemy, the colonists begin to form a national identity. Painting featuring the artist’s depiction of the Gaspee Affair

National Defense Militias Massachusetts Provincial Congress Minutemen Town, county, state No colonial army yet Massachusetts Provincial Congress Formed from the dissolved colonial government Dissolved by the Parliament Formed to promote public safety Minutemen Massachusetts militia Ready to “stand at a minute’s warning in case of alarm.”

Loyalists vs. Patriots Why don’t you shove a crumpet up your nose! You are a monumental pillock! Why don’t you shove a crumpet up your nose! Tories vs. Whigs

It all breaks loose… In response to colonial resistance, George III sends General Sir Thomas Gage to Massachusetts to restore order. Gage was to arrest the members of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress Gage didn’t know where they were, so he was going to steal their guns and ammo, which was stored at Concord, Massachusetts, instead. Gage led his 700 troops to Concord, through the small town of Lexington General Sir Thomas Gage

Map of the march to Concord

Stopped at Lexington Patriot Leaders heard about Gage’s arrival. Local silversmith Paul Revere and farmer William Dawes to warn the minutemen of Lexington that Gage was arriving Dr. Samuel Prescott was sent to Concord to warn the minutemen there. When Gage and his troops arrived at Lexington, he was confronted by 70 minutemen blocking the road

Stopped at Lexington Gage ordered the minutemen to disperse and clear the road. The minutemen, fearing the well-trained and superior force, began to slowly retreat. And then…

The shot heard round the world! A shot was fired during the exchange No one is certain who fired the first shot of the Revolutionary War Perhaps a young British officer, but no one really knows. Other people began to fire at each other in fright and outrage Eight minutemen killed, ten wounded British moved on to Concord

Arrival at Concord When the British arrived a Concord, they were in for a nasty surprise. Dr. Prescott had successfully warned the militia All of the weapons and ammunition had been moved 400 colonial militia were waiting for them As they tried cross the bridge into Concord, fighting broke out Colonials would not allow them into the city British were forced to retreat back to Boston

A costly journey… During their retreat, they were harassed by colonials the entire way Farmers shot and killed them from behind trees and rocks Sharpshooters waited to shoot them from treetops Colonists employed guerrilla warfare: ambushes, hit and run tactics, hiding behind trees and rocks By the time Gage returned to Boston, he had lost several soldiers 73 killed 174 wounded 26 missing

You guys cheated, and you suck!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWbEVZgfcrY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFpFHj4XfFg

The British are surrounded As they returned to Boston, they were being pursued The committees of correspondence had notified other towns, villages, and states what was happening The other militias rushed to Boston to help By 1775, General Gage and his troops were surrounded in the city of Boston by colonial militia.

AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!! May-November, 1775 Breed’s Hill; Bunker Hill Major General Henry Knox

Bunker Hill Pyrrhic victory victory for the British Pyrrhic victory – tactical but costly victory Was the win worth the cost? Built American confidence The Americans saw that they could fight with the British Damaged the morale of the British soldiers in and around Boston

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