1. The following colonial actions led to the Declaration of Independence:
First Continental Congress, 1774
Battle of Lexington and Concord, 1775
Second Continental Congress, 1775
Declaration of Independence, 1776

2. Delegates from 12 colonies (all except Georgia) met to discuss the situation with Britain in the fall of 1774 (September 5 – October 26, 1774)
They met at Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia in what became known as the “First Continental Congress” to convince Parliament to repeal the Intolerable Acts.
Delegates included:
John Adams
Benjamin Franklin
Samuel Adams
George Washington
John Jay

3. The Continental Congress was held in Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia in September of 1774

4. Steps Toward Independence
“I’m afraid violence is UNAVOIDABLE!”
The Congress did NOT intend to declare independence from Britain.
The delegates believed that they were entitled to the same rights as all Englishmen and that the Intolerable Acts and other laws violated those rights.
BUT, some delegates, such as Patrick Henry from Virginia, felt that violence was unavoidable…
Other delegates, from New York and Pennsylvania, had strict orders to seek PEACE!

5. but they STILL promised
After several weeks…
The delegates agreed that a Declaration and Resolves (Declaration of Rights) should be adopted and sent to the king:
Taxation by the British would be unacceptable to the colonies
The Congress agreed to boycott British goods
Colonists wanted their rights to “Life, Liberty, and Property”
but they STILL promised
obedience to the king

6. Continental Congress’ Resolutions The Non-Importation agreement
At the conclusion of the Congress, the delegates signed non-importation agreements boycotting British goods.
In addition, they pledged to meet again in 1775 if the Intolerable Acts were NOT repealed.
However, before the delegates could meet again, the Revolutionary War had begun, and the Second Continental Congress found itself occupied with the conduct of a war rather than repeal of the Intolerable Acts…
After the passage of the Intolerable Acts, colonists from 12 of the 13 colonies (all except Georgia) met at Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia in what became known as the “First Continental Congress”. Assembling to convince Parliament to repeal the Intolerable Acts, delegates meeting in the Congress included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, George Washington, Richard Henry Lee, and John Jay.
While the Congress was not created in order to declare independence from Britain, the delegates did assert that they were entitled to political and social rights, and that the Intolerable Acts and other laws violated those rights.
At the conclusion of the Congress, the delegates signed non-importation agreements boycotting British goods. In addition, they pledged to meet again in 1775 if the Intolerable Acts were not repealed. However, before the delegates could meet again, the Revolutionary War had begun, and the Second Continental Congress found itself occupied with the conduct of a war rather than repeal of the Intolerable Acts.
The Non-Importation agreement

7. Britain ignored or rejected all American petitions and pushed Americans from reconciliation to rebellion…

8. In 1775, Gage decided to quickly take hold of the supplies!
British military leaders in the colonies grew uneasy when local colonist militias seemed to be preparing for violent action…
The governor of Massachusetts, Thomas Gage, learned that a stockpile of weapons was stored in Concord, Massachusetts
In 1775, Gage decided to quickly take hold of the supplies!
Lets get the weapons!
British troops were sent to Concord to capture John Hancock and Samuel Adams, but both men were warned about the British attack

9. This became known as Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride
The colonies were full of Patriot spies, and they informed their friends that the British were up to no good…
Sons of Liberty member Paul Revere got help from William Dawes and Samuel Prescott to let him know when 700 British were coming
He sounded an alert by yelling “The British are coming!” in every town along his ride
This became known as Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride

10. The British are coming!!
Revere ordered fellow Patriots to set two lighted lanterns in the belfry of Boston’s Christ Church (Old North Church).
This prearranged signal was intended for the Patriot leaders across the Charles River in Charlestown and indicated the route of the British march.

11. The Battle of Lexington
The British soldiers marched all night from Boston, arrived at dawn
They were met by 70 minutemen at the Old North Bridge (700 redcoats vs. 77 colonists)
British commander ordered to surround and disarm militia
They were totally surprised by the minutemen…the British had no idea they were coming.

12. The Battle of Lexington Lasts 15 Minutes!
The Americans were told, “Do not fire unless fired upon…but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here!”
WHO fired the 1st shot of the American Revolution?? No one knows for sure…but it is believed that the British fired the first shots – The “Shot Heard Round the World”
When the fighting was over, 8 minutemen were dead (only ONE British redcoat was wounded)
What does this mean? Basically…don’t be the ones to start the war. If the British want to fight, let them start it. It will show that we have reason…that they are bullying us. However, if they fire first…let them have it!
No one knows where the first shot came from. Eye witness accounts claim it was the British…but those eyewitnesses were Americans. Propaganda? Likely.
No British were killed or even injured…but the Americans were left harmed. But they let the British know then and there that they were done playing nice…the war was on!

13. Doolittle visited the battle sites and interviewed soldiers and witnesses. Contains controversial elements, possibly inaccuracies. Fire from the militia may have occurred but is not depicted.
A view of the south part of Lexington, from "The Doolittle engravings of the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775."

14. British entering Concord
The second of four engravings by Amos Doolittle from 1775, depicting the British entering Concord

15. On to Concord…
The British arrived outside of Concord, where they were ambushed by the colonial militia – the arsenal in Concord was basically empty!
The British began march back to Boston to avoid further conflict, despite no reinforcements
VIDEO
Bonus question: What does “ambushed” mean? (Answer: attacked without knowledge the attack is coming…surprised)
YOU MUST KNOW WHAT THE SHOT HEARD ‘ROUND THE WORLD IS!!! It is tested every year, and you will see it on your test very soon. The question is almost always asked, “What is the shot heard ‘round the world?”
Bonus question: What does the “shot heard ‘round the world” mean? (Answer: When these small colonies decide to take on the most powerful nation in the world, the other countries took notice…if they could win this war, what would it mean for other nations. Could they lose their colonies too? Could oppressed people rise up and overthrow their rulers? It was a huge moment, and the risk was unbelievable.)
The Americans may not have exactly won Lexington and Concord, but the British did retreat…they weren’t going to Concord for a fight, they were just going to raid the Patriots’ arsenal and arrest Sam Adams and John Hancock. They couldn’t believe they got involved in two battles!

16. The Return March to Boston
3,000 to 4,000 minutemen had assembled
Hid behind stone walls and trees, fired at British
British fell by the dozens, only saved when reinforcements came from Boston
British went back to Boston where it was surrounded by colonists who held the city under siege!

17. “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World”
The war with Great Britain had BEGUN!
“Americans displayed a…spirit against us, they never showed against the French”
Lexington & Concord—April 18, 1775