1. Chapter 4 Section 1: The Revolution Begins
The Big Idea
The tensions between the colonies and Great Britain led to armed conflict in 1775.
Learning Goals
I understand the causes and effects that led up to the American Revolution.

2. Main Idea 1: The First Continental Congress demanded certain rights from Great Britain.
First Continental Congress was a meeting in Philadelphia of delegates from all colonies except Georgia.
Delegates halted trade with Britain and alerted the colonial militia to prepare for war.
They drafted Declaration of Rights that included the right to “life, liberty, and property.”
**John Locke – Enlightenment Philosopher

3. Delegates didn’t want to separate from Britain at this time, only wanted the king to fix the problems and address their issues.
Patrick Henry returns to Virginia to report to the House of Burgesses:
“I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
Colonists who chose to fight for independence from Britain became known as Patriots.

4. Main Idea 2: Armed conflict between British soldiers and colonists broke out with the “shot heard ’round the world.”
The Ride of Paul Revere
Massachusetts governor, General Thomas Gage, sent British troops to seize weapons at Concord.
Paul Revere and two others rode to warn colonists to hide the weapons.
Local militia, called minutemen, readied for battle.

5. Battles at Lexington and Concord
April 19, 1775– British troops arrived in Lexington and meet Captain John Parker and his 70 minutemen- Parker tells minutemen not to shoot unless fired upon. Mystery shot starts the battle- the “shot heard ‘round the world.”
Minutemen = 8 dead, 10 wounded.
British soldiers “Redcoats” continue on to Concord but are forced to retreat back to Boston. Their red uniforms made an easy target for Patriot marksmen who hide behind trees and bushes and ambush the redcoats all along the road.

6. Main Idea 3: The Second Continental Congress created the Continental Army to fight the British.
Delegates from twelve colonies met in Philadelphia, PA. in May 1775.
Some called for peace, others for war.
Compromised—sent word to colonies to create new state constitutions , created army but also sent Olive Branch Petition to King George III who refused to read it and planned new punishments for the colonies instead.

7. Continental Army
Congress created the Continental Army. The Massachusetts Militia made up the original part of the army, later volunteers joined from the rest of the colonies.
Named a Virginian, George Washington, to command army and prepare for the war.

8. Main Idea 4: In two early battles, the army lost control of Boston but then regained it.
Battle of Bunker Hill
Patriot army under the command of Benedict Arnold attacked British at Fort Ticonderoga in New York on May 10, 1775, to seize large supply of weapons. Patriots capture the fort and all of the weapons and cannons.
Patriot/Colonial forces fortified Breed’s Hill to prevent British escape from Boston.

9. Battle of Bunker Hill
Army of 2,400 Redcoats fought 1,600 Americans at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
Americans forced to retreat because they ran out of ammunition, but only after causing more than 1,000 British casualties.
Breed’s Hill/bunker Hill proved the patriots were willing and able to stand up to the larger, better trained and supplied British Army.

10. Dorchester Heights
General Washington arrived in Boston and took command.
Sent Colonel Henry Knox to retrieve the cannons from Fort Ticonderoga- 300 miles through the forests in WINTER.
In March 1776, Washington moved his army to Dorchester Heights and positioned the cannons on Nook’s Hill at night to surprise the British.
The British were forced to retreat from Boston.