The War Begins!!!

1. The War Begins!!!

2. The 2nd Continental Congress • On May 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. • By this time, the New England militia had gathered in Boston and the question for the delegates was who was going to lead this group. • John Adams suggested that instead of having separate colonial militias, that they join them together for a continental army made up of troops from all the colonies.

3. Adams nominated a “gentleman whose skill as an officer, whose great talents and universal character would united the colonies better than any other person alive.” • That man was George Washington of Virginia. • The Congress unanimously agreed and elected Washington to be commander-in-chief of the new Continental Army.

4. The Battle of Bunker Hill • While the delegates were meeting, militiamen near Boston were making plans to fortify 2 hills that overlooked the city-Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill. • On June 16, 1775, a few hundred men marched up Breed’s Hill. They built a fort on top of the hill. • The fort worried the British general, William Howe. He ordered an immediate attack.

5. 2,000 British troops formed 2 long lines at the base of Breed’s Hill. At Howe’s order, they marched up the hill. • As the British moved closer, the colonial commander ordered his men, “Don’t fire until you see the white’s of their eyes.” Only when the British were almost at the top of the hill did the militiamen pull their triggers. The British fell back, confused. • The British regrouped and attacked again. Once again, the Americans stopped their advance.

6. On the third attempt by the British, they successfully took the hill, but it was only because the Americans ran out of gunpowder and pulled back. • This clash, which was misnamed the Battle of Bunker Hill, was short, but bloody. The British had more than 1000 wounded or killed. The war had begun.

7. The Olive Branch Petition

8. There was little talk of independence after Lexington and Concord. • Many Americans hoped for peace with King George III. In July 1775, congress sent a petition to the king asking him to end the quarrel. • John Adams called the petition an “olive branch” because olive tree branches are an ancient symbol of peace.

9. By the time the petition reached the king, he had already declared the colonies to be “open and avowed rebellion.” He ordered his ministers to “bring the traitors to justice.” • Being called a traitor was enough to change the mind of many, including one of Washington’s generals. • The general confessed that he had not wanted to separate from Great Britain, but now he believed they must be independent.

10. Common Sense By: Thomas Paine

11. Many Americans still felt that independence was not the answer. • In early 1776, a Patriot named Thomas Paine published a fiery pamphlet entitled Common Sense. • Paine scoffed at the idea that Americans owed any loyalty to King George.

12. Paine also attacked the argument that the colonies ties to Britain had benefited Americans. He said the opposite was true. • American trade had suffered under British control. Americans had also been hurt by being dragged into Britain’s European wars. • He ended with a vision of an independent America as a homeland of liberty. • Within a few months, more than 120,000 copies of Common Sense were printed. Paine’s arguments helped persuade thousands of colonists that independence was not only sensible, but the key to a brighter future.