American Revolution begins!

First Continental Congress October 1744~12 colonies ( not Georgia) sent representatives to Philadelphia First Continental Congress was a gathering of colonial leaders about the relationship between Great Britain and its colonies Some wanted violent rebellion while others wanted a peaceful resolution Locked in debate for weeks

First Continental Congress cont: Compromise~ Continue to boycott British goods Told colonial militia to prepare for war Drafted the Declaration of Rights List of 10 resolutions to present to King George Included the rights of “life, liberty, and property” Did NOT seek independence Agreed to meet again in 1775 if not resolved

Paul Revere’s Ride Gov. Thomas Gage (MA.) learned of a stockpile of weapons the colonists were gathering in Concord, MA April 1775 decided to seize the weapons Patriot spies thought action would occur but did not know when/where/how Move to Old North Church tower in Boston to watch for British movements

Paul Revere’s Ride cont: 1 ( lantern) if by land, 2 if by sea in the Old North Church Tower Revere, Dawes and Prescot would ride on horseback to warn the minutemen Minutemen-could be ready to fight in a minute’s notice

Lexington and Concord April 19, 1775 British soldiers arrive in Concord “shot heard round the world” fired by ? Battle ended in minutes 8 colonists dead,10 wounded British 1 soldier wounded British can’t find weapons and set fire to buildings~minutemen charged forward and fired on British “redcoats” and they retreated

Second Continental Congress King George refused Declaration of Rights Meet in May 1775 in Philadelphia Compromised again-sent word to colonial authorities asking for new state constitutions MA. Army becomes the Continental Army~which included soldiers from all colonies (George Washington Commander)

Olive Branch Petition 2 nd Continental Congress sends King George the Olive Branch Petition-asking for peaceful resolution- rejection by King Washington continues to prepare for war

Battle of Bunker Hill Colonial army needed supplies Sent Benedict Arnold and 400 soldiers to New York to attack Fort Ticonderoga (May 1775) Colonial army pins the British in Boston by digging into Breed’s hill just outside of Boston British would have to fight uphill~very deadly 2400 British attack 1600 Militia

Battle of Bunker Hill Cont: As British fight up Breed’s hill they are cut down by Patriot army Twice retreated and reattempted Patriots run out of ammunition and retreat Patriots lost but proved could fight with the British British won but sacrificed twice as many soldiers as the Patriots

Dorchester Heights Washington arrives in Boston and knows he needs bigger guns Fort Ticonderoga has cannons he wants Henry Knox bring the cannons 300 miles to Boston March 4,1776-Washington moves army to Dorchester Heights outside of Boston and over the British army British retreat to Canada~leaving Boston to Patriots