Essential Question: How and why did the Revolutionary War begin?

Vocabulary: Patriot – a colonist who opposed British rule. militia-a group of ordinary people who train for battle. minutemen- militia with special training commander – an officer in charge of an army petition – a written request from a number of people

Moving toward War

Headed to war….. Colonists who opposed the British rule called themselves Patriots. They were angry about the Intolerable Acts. Throughout the colonies, the militia prepared for war against Britain.

Those who spoke out: Mercy Otis Warren was a patriot writer. She wrote plays that criticized British officials. Patrick Henry said he was eager for war with the British. He gave a famous speech in which he said “Give me liberty or give me death!”

General Thomas Gage was the British official in Massachusetts. He learned that the Patriots were storing cannons and gunpowder in Concord. He sent soldiers to destroy the supplies.

Midnight Ride of Paul Revere Paul Revere and William Dawes learned of General Gage’s plan. They rode through the night to warn the minutemen that the British were coming!

The First Battles On April 18, 1775 the British marched towards Concord. Minutemen had been alerted by Paul Revere and Dawes. They were waiting on the soldiers. At Lexington, shooting began and some minutemen were killed, but no British soldiers.

The Search for hidden weapons From Lexington, the British marched on to Concord. They did not know that hundreds of minutemen were waiting. The fighting began and soon the British were being forced back to Boston. Minutemen were shooting at them from behind trees and stone walls. More than 250 British soldiers were killed. It was “The shot heard round the world”

Trapped in Boston Militias trapped the British Soldiers in Boston. There was no way out.

Battle of Bunker Hill Patriots planned to build a fort on Bunker Hill They built it on Breed’s Hill instead. British soldiers marched up the hill and fought until the Patriots ran out of ammunition. The Patriots lost the battle, but showed that they could fight well.

Second Continental Congress The Second Continental Congress met in 1775 and created an army to go to war against Britain. George Washington was chosen to be Commander in Chief.

We want peace! Many delegates did not want to go to war with Britain They sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George III. It asked him to help end the conflict peacefully. The King sent more soldiers and the battle continued. The British were finally forced out of Boston.

Essential Question: How and why did the Revolutionary War begin?