the revolution begins. review: the first continental congress through the intolerable acts, king...

THE REVOLUTION THE REVOLUTION BEGINSBEGINS

REVIEW: REVIEW: The First Continental The First Continental

CongressCongress Through the Intolerable Acts, King George Through the Intolerable Acts, King George

III means to single out Massachusetts and III means to single out Massachusetts and punish the colony for its actions.punish the colony for its actions.

September 1775:September 1775:– 56 delegates meet in Philadelphia to draw up a 56 delegates meet in Philadelphia to draw up a

document declaring their rights as colonies.document declaring their rights as colonies. They defend the colonies rights to run their own affairsThey defend the colonies rights to run their own affairs Support the protests in MassachusettsSupport the protests in Massachusetts If British should use military force, the colonies should If British should use military force, the colonies should

fight back.fight back.– Draw up arms against them!Draw up arms against them!

Agree to reconvene May 1775 if demands are not met.Agree to reconvene May 1775 if demands are not met.

Lexington and ConcordLexington and Concord

After the First Continental After the First Continental Congress, colonists in many New Congress, colonists in many New England towns begin assembling England towns begin assembling arms and preparing a military.arms and preparing a military.

MinutemenMinutemen– Who were they really?Who were they really?


The newly appointed governor of The newly appointed governor of Massachusetts, General Gage, Massachusetts, General Gage, soon hears about these activities.soon hears about these activities.

Spring 1775:Spring 1775:– Orders British troops to march from Orders British troops to march from

Boston to Concord, Massachusetts Boston to Concord, Massachusetts to seize these illegal weapons.to seize these illegal weapons.


General Thomas Gage's instructions General Thomas Gage's instructions on the afternoon of April 18, 1775: on the afternoon of April 18, 1775: “ “ You will march with the utmost You will march with the utmost

expedition and secrecy.. You will expedition and secrecy.. You will seize and destroy all the artillery, seize and destroy all the artillery, ammunition, provisions, tents, small ammunition, provisions, tents, small arms, and all military stores arms, and all military stores whatever. . . . But you will take care whatever. . . . But you will take care that the soldiers do not plunder the that the soldiers do not plunder the inhabitants or hurt private property.”inhabitants or hurt private property.”


Colonists from Boston Colonists from Boston were watching British were watching British troops assemble.troops assemble.– Paul Revere, William Paul Revere, William

Dawes, and Samuel Dawes, and Samuel Prescott rode out to Prescott rode out to spread word that 700 spread word that 700 British troops were British troops were headed for Concordheaded for Concord

“The British are coming! The British are

coming!”


Upon hearing this, the town of Concord Upon hearing this, the town of Concord rang out to signal their men to assemble rang out to signal their men to assemble and prepare for what was about to come.and prepare for what was about to come.

British officers heard the beat of the British officers heard the beat of the militia’s drum and took it as a challenge. militia’s drum and took it as a challenge. – He ordered his troops to stop and load muskets He ordered his troops to stop and load muskets

before continuing on towards Lexington.before continuing on towards Lexington. The King’s troops reach Lexington, 5 miles The King’s troops reach Lexington, 5 miles

short of Concordshort of Concord– They are met by around 70 minutemen, armed.They are met by around 70 minutemen, armed.


Although their weapons primed and Although their weapons primed and loaded, were under orders loaded, were under orders on no on no account to fire, nor even to account to fire, nor even to attempt it without ordersattempt it without orders..

(British troops)(British troops) Like his British counterpart, Captain Like his British counterpart, Captain

Parker had warned his men not to fire Parker had warned his men not to fire without the British firing first.without the British firing first.

(Colonial troops)(Colonial troops)


British officer ordered the militia to be British officer ordered the militia to be disarmed. disarmed.

Pitcairn is said to have yelled, Pitcairn is said to have yelled,

“ “ DISPERSE YOU REBELS; DISPERSE YOU REBELS;

DAMN YOU, THROW DOWNDAMN YOU, THROW DOWN

YOUR ARMS AND DISPERSE YOUR ARMS AND DISPERSE ” ”

to the American militiamen.to the American militiamen.


Upon Pitcairn’s orders, Captain Parker Upon Pitcairn’s orders, Captain Parker orders his militiamen to disperse.orders his militiamen to disperse.

Colonists began to leave without Colonists began to leave without dropping their weapons.dropping their weapons.

Amidst the retreat, someone fires a Amidst the retreat, someone fires a shot.shot.– Who?Who?– Why?Why?

““The Shot Heard ‘Round the World”The Shot Heard ‘Round the World”


British say that it must have come from a colonist that was hiding in a nearby house or barn.

Colonists say that it came from the British side.– Multiple simultaneous shots?

No one except the person responsible ever knew with certainty, who fired the

first shot of the American Revolutionary War.

VIDEO!VIDEO!


Hearing the shot, Major Pitcairn yelled Hearing the shot, Major Pitcairn yelled Fire, damn you, fireFire, damn you, fire!! – British soldiers begin to fire at the departing British soldiers begin to fire at the departing

minutemen.minutemen. Eight minutemen are killed, 9 more are wounded.Eight minutemen are killed, 9 more are wounded. Only 1 British soldier was injured.Only 1 British soldier was injured.

The Battle at Lexington lasted 15 The Battle at Lexington lasted 15 minutes.minutes.


The British marched on to Concord, The British marched on to Concord, where they found an empty arsenal.where they found an empty arsenal.– What they had come to seize was no What they had come to seize was no

longer there.longer there.– How does this make them feel?How does this make them feel?

After another brief skirmish with After another brief skirmish with minutemen, the British troops turn minutemen, the British troops turn around to go back to Boston.around to go back to Boston.


But, the militia won’t let But, the militia won’t let them go home without a them go home without a fight...fight...– The march back to Boston The march back to Boston

quickly becomes a slaughter.quickly becomes a slaughter.– By now, between 3,000-4,000 By now, between 3,000-4,000

minutemen have assembled minutemen have assembled and begin firing on the and begin firing on the marching troops.marching troops.

Firing from behind stones and Firing from behind stones and trees.trees.

– British begin to fall at a rapid British begin to fall at a rapid rate.rate.

They are saved by the arrival of They are saved by the arrival of reinforcements from Boston.reinforcements from Boston.


Bloodied and humiliated, the Bloodied and humiliated, the remaining British soldiers made their remaining British soldiers made their way back to Boston that night.way back to Boston that night.

By the next evening, the hills By the next evening, the hills surrounding Boston had campfires lit.surrounding Boston had campfires lit.– Colonists were now enemies of Britain Colonists were now enemies of Britain

and they now held Boston and its and they now held Boston and its encampment of British troops under encampment of British troops under siege.siege.

The Second The Second Continental CongressContinental Congress

May 1775– Second Continental Congress meets as

planned in Philadelphia to debate their next move.

What is happening beyond Philadelphia?– Militia, minutemen, and British soldiers are

clashing in a bloody battle outside of Boston.

– Overseas, King George is preparing Britain for war.

PARTNER ACTIVITYPARTNER ACTIVITYYou are members of the Second Continental Congress in the year 1775. As you are meeting in Philadelphia to discuss the

mounting tension between Britain and the colonies, you receive news that the Revolutionary War has started with the outbreak of the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19,

1775. You and your fellow delegates are responsible for creating a plan of action while keeping the colonies best

interests in mind. Create a plan of action! You find yourself in the difficult position of being the decision-making body of a group at war with the powerful King George III and Britain. What options might you pursue? What steps do you need to take? Create a list of five major steps that need to be taken.

Be prepared to present your ideas to the class.

Divided OpinionsDivided Opinions

The loyalties that divided colonists sparked many debates at the Second Continental Congress.

Some delegates were militant radicals, others argued for peaceful mediation and reconciliation with Britain.

Side of WarSide of War John Adams suggests:

– Each colony should set up its own government.

Congress should declare the colonies as independent.

– Congress should consider the militia and minutemen as the “Continental Army”

We should name a general to lead them.

Side of PeaceSide of Peace

John Dickinson strongly disagrees Adams’ proposal:

“What is the reason, Mr. Adams, that you New England men oppose our measures of

reconciliation?...If you don’t concur with us in our pacific system, I and a number of us

will break off from you in New England, and we will carry on the opposition by ourselves

in our own way.”

Choosing a LeaderChoosing a Leader

Debates carried on for a month. The Congress finally agreed to recognize

the Continental Army and would decide on a leader.

– Wealthiest man in America? Most esteemed and popular?

OR– A man of great skill- a general of the F&I

War?

Choosing a LeaderChoosing a Leader

CORRECT!!CORRECT!! George Washington, a 43 year-old native was selected as George Washington, a 43 year-old native was selected as

the general of the Continental Army.the general of the Continental Army. Arrived to the congress in his Virginia military uniform.Arrived to the congress in his Virginia military uniform.

– People looked past the traditional methods of wealth, and saw People looked past the traditional methods of wealth, and saw potential and experience in him.potential and experience in him.

WRONG!!WRONG!! John Hancock himself John Hancock himself

was shocked as well.was shocked as well. The traditional The traditional

European way of European way of selecting a general of an selecting a general of an army was based on army was based on lineage, esteem, and lineage, esteem, and wealth.wealth.

The colonies did things a The colonies did things a little differently…little differently…

The Second The Second Continental CongressContinental Congress

The congress, acting like an The congress, acting like an independent government:independent government:– Authorized the printing of money to pay Authorized the printing of money to pay

troops.troops.– Organized a committee to deal with Organized a committee to deal with

foreign nations. foreign nations.

the revolution begins. review: the first continental congress through the intolerable acts, king...

Documents

orders british troops

concordthe british

british soldiers

massachusettsif british

british troopslike

british counterpart

british officers

british firing