American Independence… No Turning Back

Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride The British soldiers left Boston at night toward Lexington and Concord Their goal was to seize colonial weapons and catch the colonists off guard The Sons of Liberty were ready and warned the countryside

“One if by land, two if by sea” They hung two lamps in the Old North Church in Boston The British were coming by sea (faster) Revere rode on horseback through the villages hollering “The redcoats are coming! The redcoats are coming!” He alerted the colonists of the British invasion

Lexington The next morning the British arrived in Lexington 70 minutemen were waiting Suddenly a shot was fired “The shot heard round the world” and the first shot of the American Revolution Eight colonists were killed The British moved on to Concord

Concord 300 minutemen were waiting Fighting broke out The British were forced to retreat back to Boston 73 redcoats killed, 200 wounded/missing

Blood shed… but war? Not all colonists wanted revolution The words and deeds of Patriots like John Adams, Sam Adams, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin would help convince many to see the colonies were at a cross road… submit to the British as second class citizens or fight for independence It would not be easy and if fought, there would be no turning back

After Lexington and Concord The colonies were still unsure of what to do Some wanted peace Some wanted war

Second Continental Congress Congress meets a second time Delegates from each of the colonies were there Famous Faces in Attendance: John Adams Sam Adams George Washington Benjamin Franklin Thomas Jefferson

Second Continental Congress Heated debate on what to do They agree to pass The Olive Branch Petition Declared loyalty to the king Asked the king to repeal the Intolerable Acts

King George FURIOUS!!!! He issues the Rebellion Proclamation Calls the Congress traitors and wicked Accused them of leading a rebellion Encouraged British citizens to turn in anyone suspected of speaking against the crown Claimed anyone speaking against the crown would be charged with treason Ordered 20,000 more troops be sent

Continental Army Congress sets up the Continental Army Appoint George Washington as commander Washington knew it was going to be a tough fight Untrained militia versus trained British soldiers

The Colonies Split Patriots: colonists who favored war Loyalists: colonists who favored loyalty to the king Many were undecided The Loyalist

Patriots Disadvantages Advantages Poorly organized Untrained militia soldiers Few cannons and gunpowder No Navy Advantages Militia fighters owned their own weapons and were good shots George Washington Fiercely determined Home field advantage

Loyalists Usually wealthy merchants Former officials to the royal government More from the Middle and Southern colonies Patriots tarred and feathered some Loyalists fled back to England or to Canada

The Battle of Bunker Hill Colonel William Prescott led 1,200 minutemen up Bunker Hill to create a wall preventing the British from moving past Boston From that vantage point they could fire on British ships sitting in Boston Harbor British charged the hill

Battle of Bunker Hill (continued) The British charged the hill twice unsuccessfully with serious casualties On the third charge the British took the hill Colonists retreated Heavy loss for British 1,000 British killed including major officers 400 Colonists killed

Result of Bunker Hill First major battle of the American Revolution Even though colonists loss the battle, it proved they could stand up to the British Proved the Americans could fight bravely

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet called Common Sense He argued: The colonist have pleaded with the king reasonably The King has become a tyrant That free people should not be ruled by king/queen That Britain never really cared about the colonists It makes “common sense” to declare independence

Common Sense Huge Success Thomas Paine’s pamphlet spreads through the colonies It inspires many to become Patriots People begin to want independence from Britain Members of the Continental Congress are inspired by it also and begin to debate independence

The Consequences of Declaring Independence To formally declare independence would be considered treason Each of the members of Congress would be executed Knowing the consequences, the members of Congress debate, think and then take a vote Franklin, “We must hang together or assuredly we will hang separately.”

Who Will Write… While still debating the issue, Congress established a committee to formally write a Declaration of Independence (just in case) Committee: Thomas Jefferson John Adams Benjamin Franklin

Declaring Independence July 2, 1776 Congress votes on independence The measure passes July 4, 1776 Congress adopts Jefferson’s document Congress signs the Declaration of Independence

What Did the Declaration Say? Three Parts Natural rights British wrongs Independence

Natural Rights “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” People are given their rights from God not government Government exists to protect those rights Government must have the approval of the people The people have a right to remove that government

British Wrongs “We have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms; our repeated petitions have been answered only be repeated injury. A prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.” Condemns King George III (sending troops during peacetime and overtaxing) Explains how colonist have petitioned the king only to be treated with injustice

Independence “And, for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, an our sacred honor.” All political ties with Britain are cut They desire to be a free and independent country

Reaction to Independence Copies of the Declaration of Independence were sent around the colonies Colonist cheered and tore down statues of the king (they later made bullets out of them) In a letter to his wife Abigail, John Adams wrote that the day of the signing will forever be marked with celebrations and illuminations (fireworks)

Celebration But Now Cold Reality The king would not let the colonists leave without a fight The colonists new war was inevitable and that it would not be easy A group of farmers, merchants, lawyers, boys, untrained family men would face the greatest army in the world The colonists brace themselves and prepare for war