The Revolutionary War Begins Chapter 4

Review Sons of Liberty Daughters of Liberty Boston Massacre Committee of Correspondence The Tea Act The Boston Tea Party The Coercive/Intolerable Acts

Colonies Unite! 1st Continental Congress- Organized by the Comm. of Corr. September – October, 1774 Meeting of delegates from 12 colonies in Philadelphia (no Georgia) Declaration of Rights and Grievances Expressed loyalty to the king Condemned the Coercive Acts Boycott British Goods

Colonial Militias Form Each colony forms their own army & b/g training them Patrick Henry – “…give me liberty or give me death!” speech Minutemen= militiamen from Massachusetts – ready to fight in a minute’s notice – key to start of war Colonists begin to confiscate, smuggle, & steal weapons for defense!

Taking Sides Patriots – colonists who supported the rebellion & wanted war with England. 1/3 population (Mainly New England & Virginia) Loyalists – colonists who opposed the rebellion & wanted peace. (Mainly Georgia, the Carolinas, & New York) Nobody expected a war for independence at this point! Colonists only wanted taxes & unjust laws repealed!

Paul Revere’s Ride Revere put two lanterns in the church to show the British were coming by sea 1 if by land, 2 if by sea 2 Objectives… Get to Lexington to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that the British were marching to arrest them Get to Concord where the weapons and supplies were hidden & warn the colonists Revere did not get to Concord b/c he was captured, but later let go Dr. Samuel Prescott is actually the person who got to Concord to warn the militia

Paul Revere’s Ride

On to Lexington & Concord April 19, 1775= 700 British march to Concord to seize Patriot guns. Lexington – British met by 70 “minutemen” on way to Concord 1st shots of war fired here, 8 minutemen killed Concord – 400 colonial militia meet British at “Old North Bridge” British are forced to retreat!

The “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” The fighting at Lexington & Concord started the Revolutionary War The battle at Concord became known as the “shot heard round the world” B/c this event inspired other countries to rise up and rebel against unjust rulers and govts. Other revolutions will follow the American Revolution

Lexington Green- Minutemen shot here

Old North Bridge- Concord, Mass.

Second Continental Congress Meet in Philadelphia May – June, 1775 Name George Washington general & commander of the Continental Army Creates Continental Army