1. A meeting in philadelphia
1774

2. September 1774 55 delegates Philadelphia
Goal = to set up a political body that would represent americans & challenge the british control
This body is called Continental congress

3. Assignment Read pages 120-121
Create a bubble map for the 1st continental congress
Center bubble = 1st continental congress
Information that most be shown on your bubble map:
when they met
where they met
who sent delegates
who do they send (what was the person’s importance)
decisions made by the congress

4. Continental congress Leaders from 12/13 colonies attended.
Georgia does not send a representative.

5. Who is sent?
Massachusetts = Samuel Adams (fiery) & John Adams (lawyer) – cousins
New York = John Jay (lawyer)
Virginia = George Washington , Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry (Lee & Henry very outspoken defenders of colonial rights)
Patrick Henry wants colonies to form a strong resistance against Britain. 2nd day = “The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more. I am not a Virginian, but an American.”

6. Topics Complaints against the British
Called for the repeal of 13 acts of Parliament
Believed laws violated the “laws of nature, the principles of the English constitution, and several charters.” of the colonies.
Voted to boycott British trade
Endorse Suffolk Resolves (Boston)– declare Coercive Acts to be illegal; called for country’s residents to arm themselves against the British.
Colonies organized militias

7. Laws of continental congress
They are not permanent
They change as legislators respond to the concerns of the electorate
Why did the delegates call for the repeal of certain laws?

8. A Massachusetts community prepares
Look at the chart on page 121
About how many soldiers does Salem appear prepared to equip?
Wjat does this list suggest about this community’s expectations about relations with the british?
What might the colonists who saw this list have thought?

9. Militias, minutemen

10. Interactive militia, minutemen & Continental army
MILITIAS
MINUTEMEN
Groups of citizen soldiers
Important part of each town’s defense
Trained & had drills with other citizen soldiers
Practiced with muskets and cannons
Each member provides own weapon (musket) & ammunition
Towns begin to gather & store military supplies
Militias that boasted they would be ready to fight at a minute’s notice

11. A Massachusetts community prepares (121)
About how many soldiers does Salem appear prepared to equip?
What does the list suggest about this community’s expectations about relations with the British?

12. Fighting Begins: Great Britain sends troops
King George told Parliament that the New England colonies were “in a state of rebellion” & that blows must decide” who would control America
By April 1775, several thousand British troops are in and around Boston.
Thomas Gage (British general) has orders to seize weapons from Massachusetts militia and arrest the leaders
Gage learns that the militia stores arms and ammunition in Concord (20 milies NW of Boston) He orders 700 troops (Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith
“to Concord, where you will seize and destroy all the artillery and ammunition you can find.”

13. British on the move April 18, 1775
Dr. Joseph Warren walks through Boston
Sees troops marching out of the city
Warren alerts Paul Revere & William Dawes – members of Sons of Liberty
Revere & Dawes ride to Lexington (east of Concord) declaring ______________
Revere gallops through countryside shouting his warning
Samuel Adams is ready to fight” What a glorious morning this is!”
British patrol captures Dawes & Revere
Samuel Prescott carries the warning to concord

14. Review What was the purpose of the Continental Congress?
Which colony was not represented at the Continental Congress?
Who were some of the important delegates?
Why did the delegates call for the repeal of certain laws?
What other actions did the delegates take?
How did the New England colonists prepare to fight?
What did the British do to prepare?
Where did Dr. Warren see British troops on the march?
Where were the colonial weapons stored?
Where did Paul Revere and William Dawes ride in order to warn the colonists?