Chapter 6 the American revolution Lesson 1 Fighting begins in the north

I. Peace or war? May 10, 1775- Second Continental Congress met 1. discussed a way to avoid war. 2. Delegates sent a petition to King George III B. Olive Branch Petition-the colonists declared their loyalty to the king: asked that the Intolerable Acts to be repealed. C. King George III vowed to bring the rebels to justice ordered 20,000 more troops to the colonies to crush revolt.

II. Rebels take Ticonderoga Ethan Allen 1. led the Green Mountain Boys in a surprise attack on Fort Ticonderoga. 2. Fort held cannons that colonists could use. 3. Green Mountain Boys quickly over took the guard and entered the fort. 4. Allen stormed the room where the British commander slept. “come out , you old rat!” 5. The British commander surrendered Ticonderoga. Supply of cannons and gunpowder were on route into Canada

III. Setting up an army A. The Second Continental Congress wanted to organize the makeshift army gathering near Boston. B. In June 1775, the delegates set up the Continental Army with George Washington as commander. C. Washington knew he would be fighting the world’s strongest army, but, was willing to do his best

IV. Advantages of opposing sides B. Patriots’ Disadvantages A. Patriots’ advantages 1. Patriots owned their own guns and were good shots. 2. Washington was a brilliant commander. 3. Patriots were very determined to defend their homes, property, and liberty 1. 1/3 of colonists were loyalists. 2. Patriots were disorganized and untrained 3. Had little weapons and gunpowder and no Navy. 4.Colonists were not willing to enlist in Continental Army 5. did not like fighting away from home.

1. Powerful foes 2. Highly trained and experienced troops. D. British Disadvantages C. British Advantages 1. Powerful foes 2. Highly trained and experienced troops. 3. Experienced navy 1. Its armies were 3,000 miles from home. 2. Took months for news and supplies to travel from Britain to America. 3. British soldiers risked attack by colonists once they left the cities.

V. Loyalists 1. 1/3 of the population A. Loyalists- American colonists who remained loyal to Britain. 1. 1/3 of the population 2. Wealthy merchants and former officials of the Royal government 3. Most were from the Middle and Southern colonies B. Had a hard time during the War-were tarred and feathered or many fled to England or Canada losing all property in colonies

VI. Fight for Boston A. 6,000 British troops were surrounded in Boston by the Colonial militia. B. June 16,1775- Colonel William Prescott led 1,200 minutemen up Bunker Hill 1. Perched on the hill Prescott and his men could fire on British ships. 2. At sunrise British general William Howe, saw the Americans and ferried 2,400 redcoats to attack the rebels’ position

Battle of bunker hill 1. As the British approached, the Patriots held their fire. 2. When the Americans fired ,the British were forced to retreat. 3. tried the second time with same result. 4 The last time the British took the hill, but lost 1,000 redcoats. Americans only lost 400.

VII. British leave Boston A. Washington turned raw recruits (16,000) into a trained army Difficult because soldiers from different colonies did not trust each other. Washington won the loyalty of his troops. B. January 1776 -the cannons that Green Mountain Boys captured arrived in Boston. C. General Howe saw the cannons and knew he could not hold Boston. 1. March 1776- he and his troops left Boston for Halifax, Canada. 1,000 loyalists went with them.

D. King George III ordered a blockade of all colonial ports 1. *Blockade- the shutting of a port to keep people or supplies from moving in or out. The king also used mercenaries from Germany to help in fight. (hessians) Mercenaries- troops for hire.