Revolution Begins

Second Continental Congress

• All colonies this time• New people: B. Franklin

(Penn), John Hancock (Mass), Thomas Jefferson (VA)

• Vote to start a continental army– Washington to lead it

• One last attempt at peace-- Olive Branch Petition, asked for peace but wanted rights

Bunker/Breeds Hill• Militia around Boston led by Colonel

William Prescott• Colonists hold hills over looking Boston• British attack, we hold them back 3x• Prescott quote “Don’t shoot till you see

the whites of their eyes!”• Run out of ammo and we have to retreat

Early Victories• Washington shows up and surrounds

Boston with cannons– we force them out of Boston

• Ethan Allen leads the Green Mountain Boys and capture Ft. Ticonderoga in upper NY

Declaring Independence

• Thomas Paine writes “Common Sense”– propaganda pamphlet that calls for indy

• Helps change people’s view of Britain• Delegates at 2nd Con. Congress debate

declaring indy• Thomas Jefferson to write it up just in

case, Franklin and J. Adams to help

The Declaration• Four main parts:

• 1. Preamble–people who want indy should explain

• 2. Explains rights we should have• 3. Lists wrongs committed by Britain• 4. Declares us as Americans

• Most delegates sign on July 4, 1776• John Hancock large signature so king can

see w/o his glasses

Choosing Sides• After the D of I is signed

loyalists start getting attacked by patriots

• Families and friends divided• Many loyalists go back to

England, some flee to Canada

• Women were not addressed in the D of I, neither were African Americans– all men created equal?

Advantages and Disadvantages• American Advantages

• Home field advantage• Women helping• Hope for foreign aid• Guerrilla warfare• Fighting for a cause

• American Disadvantages• No Navy, just pirates• Untrained militia• Loyalists & African Americans• No money

• British Advantages• Best Navy in the world• Money and supplies• NA, AA, and Loyalist help• Trained soldiers

• British Disadvantages• Bring supplies from 3,000

miles away• Don’t know land• Fight old school • Mercenaries fight for $ not

a cause, German Hessians