Lesson 2- The Revolution Begins!
Lexington and Concord The British were fed up with the colonists protests in America. They decided that capturing colonial leaders would stop the protests. When the Sons of Liberty heard of this plan, they sent Samuel Adams to Lexington (outside of Boston). There, the colonists hid their weapons. They also hid weapons in the town of Concord.
Lexington and Concord April 18, 1775- General Thomas Gage sent 700 soldiers to Lexington and Concord to seize the weapons that the Sons of Liberty hid there. Seize- to take hold of suddenly and forcibly When the colonists heard of the plan they sent Paul Revere and William Dawes to warn the people in Lexington and Concord. They were able to hide most of their weapons and save Samuel Adams and John Hancock! Paul Revere Samuel Adams John Hancock
Lexington and Concord Because of Paul Revere s and William Dawe s warning, a militia of 70 men, called minutemen, were waiting for the British in Lexington when they arrived. Militia- groups of volunteers who fight only in an emergency 8 minutemen were killed and the British continued their pursuit to Concord!
Lexington and Concord o A larger militia of colonists waited just outside of Concord in order to defend their weapons against the British. o The British never made it and instead retreated toward Boston. o Retreat-withdraw from enemy forces as a result of their superior power or after a defeat As the British were retreating, the minutemen followed them and began shooting. More than 90 British soldiers were killed. The Revolutionary War had begun!!!
Early Battles Battles in New York and Boston followed the events at Lexington and Concord. Militias began to work together and a larger colonial army formed.
Fort Ticonderoga A man named Benedict Arnold led a small militia toward Fort Ticonderoga in New York. Arnold wanted to attack the fort and take its cannons for the colonial army. With the help of another man, Ethan Allen, and his militia, the colonists were able to capture the fort without firing a single shot! (May 10, 1775)
The Battle at Bunker Hill The British were losing control of the Boston area. General Gage wanted to attack the hills around Boston, but the colonists figured out their plan. Colonial militia was sent to protect Bunker Hill. Instead, they decided to protect Breed s Hill. They worked hard building walls of protection. The British arrived on June 17. Americans did not have much ammunition or musket balls and gun powder (they could not be wasteful). Don t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes! -Colonel William Prescott (American) The British won The Battle of Bunker Hill. The battle was costly for both sides.
Choosing Sides As news of the war spread, colonists had to pick sides. Many colonists did not want war and refused to pick a side. They focused on protecting themselves and their property. Loyalists- colonists that did not want to rebel against Great Britain. They remained loyal to the king. Patriots- colonists that no longer saw themselves as British citizens. They now saw themselves as Americans, and fought for their rights and freedoms. Patriot Loyalist
The Second Continental Congress Well respected colonial leaders were Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Hancock. These men met in Philadelphia's State House in order to organize the American army and discuss what to do next. See the journal entries on page 169 of your textbook to read about the discussions that took place.
Ideas About Rights Patriots had certain ideas about what the government should be like. John Locke influenced most of these ideas. Locke believed that all people were born free and equal and that people had rights given to them by nature. (Natural rights) Mainly, the right to life, liberty, and the right to own property. Government s duty was to protect these rights. Next step- write the Declaration of Independence! Complete the activity on page 171