The Road to the Revolutionary War

1. The Road to the Revolutionary War

2. Review • French and Indian War? • How did they pay for it? • Proclamation of 1763? • Stamp Act? • Quartering Act? • Boston Massacre? • Tea Act? • Boston Tea Party?

3. 1774- Intolerable Acts • Acts in response to the Boston Tea Party • Allowed governors to move trials to other colonies or even England • Banned town meetings • Closed the Boston Harbor • New Quartering Act • Gave religious freedom to Catholics living in Quebec Harshest acts passed so far!!!!!!!

4. 1774- First Continental Congress • First Continental Congress meets in response to the Intolerable Acts • Sept. 5, 1774 • Philadelphia (Carpenters Hall, now known as Independence Hall) • 12/13 colonies sent delegates • Got together to discuss problems with Great Britain • It is important to note that the 13 colonies did not collectively declare independence!

6. March 1775 • Patrick Henry “Give me liberty, or give me death” • St. John’s Church, Richmond VA • Met there secretively instead of Williamsburg

7. Lexington and Concord – April 1775

8. 1775- Shot Heard Around the World • Battle of Lexington and Concord • The first shots starting the revolution were fired at Lexington, Massachusetts. On April 18, 1775, British General Thomas Gage sent 700 soldiers to destroy guns and ammunition the colonists had stored in the town of Concord, just outside of Boston. They also planned to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock, two of the key leaders of the patriot movement.

9. Night of the Midnight ride • Dr. Joseph Warren learned of the British plans and sent Paul Revere to alert John Hancock and Samuel Adams. Paul Revere promised to warn them when the British soldiers started to march. Since he wasn't sure that he would be able to get out of Boston with the message, he made plans to alert people by putting lanterns in the Old North Church steeple. He would light one lantern if the British were coming by land, and two lanterns if the British were coming by sea. On the evening of April 18th, the British troops were ferried across the Boston Harbor to start their march on Lexington. Paul Revere hung two lanterns in the church steeple. Then Paul Revere, William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott rode to warn the colonists that the British were coming.

10. Minutemen from nearby towns were now responding to the messengers' warnings. The smoke from the burning supplies was also attracting local farmers and townspeople. A large force of patriots was now gathered in response to the British troops. As the British soldiers headed back to Boston, they were attacked by the Minutemen. All along the route, Minutemen, local farmers and townspeople continued the attack against the British. By the time the soldiers reached Boston, 73 British solders were dead and 174 more were wounded.

11. June 1775- Battle of Bunker Hill

12. May 10th 1775 • Second Continental Congress meets • In reaction to Lexington and Concord • Met back in Philadelphia at Carpenter Hall (Now known at Independence Hall) • Discussed such items such as: • Military • Financing of the war • Possible Independence

13. Bunker Hill – June 1775 • British wanted to keep possession of Boston • Colonists severely lost • What to do now?!?!?!??!!?

14. January 1776 • Thomas Paine: Wrote “Common Sense” • Became an instant success • Blamed Britain for suffering in the colonies • Urged colonists to declare independence • Good friend of Benjamin Franklin

15. July 1776- Declaration of Independence is signed!!!! • Main author: Thomas Jefferson • Used ideas from John Locke • Listed grievances with King George III • Important to note that we had already been fighting • Many colonies had already individually declared independence; but first time all 13 colonies collectively declared independence