Chapter 7.1 The American Revolution Begins

• August 1774– The American colonies

feel that the time for action against England is now!

– So what action do we take exactly?

• We should have a meeting….

September 5, 1774• 1st meeting of the

Continental Congress held in Philadelphia, Pa. – 56 representatives from

each of the colonies • Except Georgia

• What did they discuss? – How to deal with what

England is doing to Boston, Massachusetts

• Intolerable Acts

Some important people who were at 1st Continental Congress

• Massachusetts– John Adams– Samuel Adams– John Hancock

• Pennsylvania– John Dickenson – Benjamin Franklin

• Virginia – Patrick Henry– George Washington

So what was the decision for the fate of Boston?

• John Dickinson (Pa)– Quaker who did not

want to fight• Boston should make

peace with England

• Patrick Henry (Va.)– Believed in fighting for

natural rights of all men• War with Britain can not

be avoided!

So how did the first meeting of the Continental Congress end?

1. Agreed to continue boycott of British goods

2. Agreed to prepare colonial militias for a fight with Britain if things get worse.

3. All colonies signed letter to King George called Declaration of Rights

• Listed freedoms that the colonists felt they had a right to. – Representation in government

• Agree to meet again in Spring 1775 if King George does not agree.

What happens next?

• 1774– Winter comes to

America• The colonies go about

with their separate lives

• Why? – No way to travel from

colony to colony

– So, Boston is left alone to deal with the British by themselves.

Spring 1775

• Boston used the winter to train their militia men– Renamed themselves

minutemen• Could be ready in a

minutes notice.

– King George is concerned about these trained minutemen.

• So what can he do about it?

The War Begins… April 18,1775

• King George orders General Thomas Gage to take all weapons away from the Massachusetts minutemen.

– Guns were kept in city named Concord

• About 20 miles west of Boston

The British Are Coming! The British Are Coming!

• Evening, April 18, 1775– Paul Revere and Charles

Dawes are told that British troops were coming.

• They both leave on horseback to tell citizens to get ready!

• By morning, – The minutemen were ready

in Concord!• City of Lexington prepared as

well

– why?

» They were in between Boston and Concord

Morning April 19, 1775• Battle of Lexington,

MA– Military Breakdown:

• 70 minutemen with rifles

Vs.

• 700 trained British troops

– Battle lasted 6 minutes with minutemen retreating from the city…

The British move on to Concord…

• News gets to Concord that Lexington has fallen. – British redcoats are on

way to Concord. • Redcoats = troops

• Concord is more ready than Lexington– They have 500

minutemen ready!

Battle of Concord, MA

• The Minutemen hold off the British!!– Kill over 250 British

troops

– British retreat back to Boston

• Never captured the weapons in Concord

• The King is not going to be happy…..

Review Questions1. What is the First Continental Congress?

2. Where did the Continental Congress meet?

3. What is a minutemen?

4. What was Gen. Thomas Gage ordered by the King to do?

5. What are the Battles of Lexington and Concord?