The Road to RevolutionThe Road to Revolution

6-3: The Road to Lexington and Concord

The Intolerable Acts

Militia –• armed citizens who

practiced to defend their communities

Minutemen – • militiamen who were

trained to be “ready at a minute’s warning”

The Intolerable Acts

Coercive Acts –• laws passed by Parliament to punish Boston for the

Tea Party1. closed the port of Boston ‘til the tea was

paid for2. banned committees of correspondence and

limited town council meetings and the Massachusetts Colonial Assembly to just once a year

3. included a stricter Quartering Act, allowing troops to be housed in private homes

4. provided for trials in Britain of British officials accused of crimes in America

colonial name for the Coercive Acts

Intolerable

The Intolerable Acts

• Parliament was more determined than ever to “master” the colonists.

• Their efforts actually drew the colonies closer together, as other colonies sent food and money to Boston and colonists again met to discuss acting together

Summary –

Thomas Gage –• British general sent to Boston as Governor to enforce the Coercive Acts

The First Continental Congress Meets

1st Continental Congress –

• meeting of delegates from most colonies• asked Parliament to repeal Coercive Acts• urged colonies to train their militias and store

weapons just in case

Summary –• While not ready to call for independence,

colonists were determined to act together to uphold their rights.

• leader of Massachusetts’ Committee of Safety, which was storing weapons in Concord and elsewhere

Between War and Peace

BetweenWar and Peace

Patrick Henry Before the Virginia House of BurgessesPeter F. Rothermel

Between War and Peace

Patrick Henry – •in Virginia’s House of Burgesses,

called for Virginia to follow Massachusetts’ lead and prepare for war ...

known for the line:

“ I know not what course others may take,but as for me,

Give me Liberty, or Give me Death! ”

Between War and Peace

Summary –• Colonists thought a show of force would

cause Britain to change its policies for governing the colonies, and continued to organize to be ready.

• colonial leaders in Lexington where General Thomas Gage sent troops to arrest them

The Midnight Ride

Sam Adams & –

Paul RevereJohn Singleton Copley

The Midnight Ride

The Midnight Ride

Paul Revere’sRide Grant Wood

• messengers who rode to Lexington warning colonists along the way of the approaching British soldiers

•both were stopped just outside Lexington

•Revere was captured•Dawes escaped with a lame horse

The Midnight Ride

Paul Revere & William Dawes –

• joined Dawes and Revere in Lexington en route to Concord

• only one of the three to make it to Concord to warn their militia

The Midnight Ride

Dr. Samuel Prescott –

The Midnight Ride

Summary –• colonial networks of communication

spread the news of British troop movements so that militias might be prepared to protect their towns

Lexington & Concord

Loyalists –

• Americans who supported the British government

Patriots –

• Americans who fought against the British government and, later, supported independence

Lexington & Concord

Lexington – Concord –

• British troops sent here to capture weapons and ammunition

• 1st American (Patriot) victory of Revolutionary War

• British troops sent here to arrest Adams &

• 1st battle of the Revolutionary War• British victory

Lexington & Concord

John Parker –• Captain of the 70 Lexington militiamen who

faced 700 British troops to show that they would defend their towns against British tyranny

Lexington & Concord

Stand Your Ground Don Troiani

Lexington & Concord

First News of the Battle of Lexington — William Tylee Ranney

Lexington & Concord

Ralph Waldo Emerson –• American poet who called the events at Lexington and Concord:

“The shot heard ‘round the world.”

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,

Their flag to April's breeze unfurled;

Here once the embattled farmers stood;

And fired the shot heard ‘round the world.

Lexington & Concord

Summary –

• War begins. The colonists have shown the determination to fight for their rights as Englishmen.

• The British soldiers are chased back to Boston as American organization becomes suddenly evident.

The Road to RevolutionThe Road to Revolution6-3: The Road to Lexington & Concord