Colonial Resistance & Rebellion Chapter 2, Section 1 Colonial Resistance & Rebellion

Chapter 2, Section 1 Quick Write: Review What was the Boston Massacre? A mob of colonists was taunting British soldiers at the Boston Customs House. British soldiers opened fire on the crowd, killing 5 colonists.

The Revolutionary War Begins Chapter 2, Section 1 The Revolutionary War Begins A British General (General Gage) learned about the colonists’ plan British troops planned to march from Boston to Concord to seize the colonists’ illegal weapons Colonists (Paul Revere and others) rode to Concord to warn the minutemen The colonists were able to meet the British troops at Lexington, where the first shots of the war were fired

The Revolutionary War Begins (cont.) Chapter 2, Section 1 The Revolutionary War Begins (cont.) The Battle of Lexington was the first battle of the Revolutionary War, but it lasted only 15 minutes The British marched back to Concord (second battle), where they found no weapons and fought briefly with the colonists The British soldiers then marched back to Boston, where they were surprised by 3,000-4,000 minutemen--many British soldiers were killed as they retreated to Boston

The Revolutionary War Begins (cont.) Chapter 2, Section 1 The Revolutionary War Begins (cont.) In May 1775, colonists held the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia and recognized the minutemen militia as the Continental Army (led by George Washington) British troops were stuck in Boston, so they decided to attack colonists at Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill). The British technically won the battle and maintained their position, but over 1,000 British soldiers were injured or killed (deadliest battle) Colonists became divided about whether they should remain loyal to Britain or declare independence . . .