1. WARM UP – FEBRUARY 22
Everyone grab the Guided Notes from the front table and answer these questions listed at the top:
1. What were the two meetings held by delegates in Philadelphia called? What important decisions were made by the colonists at each of these meetings?
2. Describe the fighting styles of the colonists and British. What advantages or disadvantages does each style contain?
3.What is the significance of the battles that took place in Lexington and Concord?

2. Battle of Bunker Hill
June 1775 – Redcoats humiliated and ready to fight
Marched to an area outside of Boston near Bunker Hill where some Minutemen were stationed
Battle of Bunker Hill – June 1775
Minutemen held fire until the last moment
“Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!”
Redcoats stormed the hill 3 times
Last surge was successful, Minutemen ran out of ammo
British victory, bloodiest battle of the war
450 Minutemen wounded
1,000 Redcoats killed/wounded

3. Olive Branch Petition
July 1775 – Second Continental Congress still in session
Most colonists still considered themselves British citizens (very angry British citizens)
Olive Branch Petition
July 1775
Sent by the Congress to King George III
Urged a return to the “former harmony” between England and the colonies
Last ditch effort for peace

4. Olive Branch Petition REJECTED by King George III
Declared the colonies in rebellion
Urged Parliament to order a naval blockade (cut off trading) on the American coast
Colonies are in rebellion!
I will cut off their trade to suffocate them financially!
I have a giant hat.

5. Common Sense Changes Colonists’ Minds
January 1776 – anonymous pamphlet (50 pgs) circulated the colonies
Common Sense (Thomas Paine)
Attacked King George III
“Destiny” for the colonies to become a separate nation
Trade freely with other nations
Get foreign aid to defeat England
Develop a better society based on equality
500,000 copies sold
Why significant? - Very influential in persuading undecided colonists to support independence

6. Summer 1776 Colonies ready to declare independence as a unit
NC already declared independence
VA wanted to follow NC
Second Continental Congress (still in session), debates declaring independence
Thomas Jefferson appointed to prepare a formal declaration explaining the rebellion and desire to be free

7. Declaration of Independence
1776
Written by Thomas Jefferson
Based on the ideas of John Locke (Enlightenment thinker)
People have “natural rights”…
Life
Liberty
Pursuit of happiness
Government gets its power from its citizens (the “consent of the governed”).
People should rebel against a government that denies its citizens these “unalienable rights.”

8. Declaration of Independence
“All men are created equal…”
The belief that FREE MALE citizens are equals and should be treated so by the government.
NOT including women, Native Americas, and African American slaves… or really any poor person
July 2, 1776 – Congress voted to officially “rebel” or be free
July 4, 1776 – adopted and signed the Declaration of Independence

9. Americans Choose Sides
Patriots
Loyalists (Tories)
Supported American independence
Remained loyal to England
Farmers, merchants, artisans, landowners, elected officials
Quakers (but didn’t fight)
African American slaves (maybe freedom if America wins?)
Who?
Judges, Councilors, or Governors
Lived in rural areas – didn’t know of the events in the cities
Native Americans (viewed as smaller threat than colonists)
African American slaves (maybe freedom if England wins?)
New opportunities for economic gains
Why not – can it get worse?
Why?
Didn’t want to be punished as rebels if British won
Scared of new government